AUSTIN — Maybe all it took for Texas to look like, well, Texas was a historic comeback in Starkville. The preseason No. The preseason No. It’s not uncommon for a person to be forced into a new perspective by their own mortality. This is what happened with No. Texas looked the contender that everyone thought they were against No. In a 34-31 win over Vanderbilt, a game which was already in the bag before the Commodores scored two late touchdowns on a defense that had lost its starting safetymen and played too relaxedly in the fourth quarter. Don’t let the last frame detract from the overall message. Texas has been through many storms, and it is now forming at the right time.
Texas linebacker Anthony Hill commented, “It’s tough to come back (against Mississippi State). I feel like we have built a few calluses so that we can play freely and just enjoy the game.” The Longhorns scored immediately in their first home game since September 20. Wingo converted a screen into a 75 yard touchdown with incredible open-field blocking. Wingo’s speed of 10.5 seconds at 100 meters also helped. Texas continued to score from that point on, scoring in its first six drives.
Arch Manning played his best season game after returning from the concussion that he sustained against the Bulldogs. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 328 yards with three touchdowns. Manning has now achieved his first signature victory.
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QB1 will draw the national headlines — he’s quietly won four straight starts after being labeled college football’s first flop by The Athletic — and Sarkisian said Manning’s growth this season is obvious. Texas’s thrashing of Vanderbilt, and any hope of the future, rests on a resurgent offense line. The Longhorn front managed to control the line of scrimmage throughout the afternoon. Texas shifted senior center Cole Hutson from left guard to center and junior Connor Robertson to center. This was done in order for the Longhorns’ offensive line, which had been struggling, Nick Brooks. Vanderbilt, ranked 26th overall in pressure rate entering the week, had zero sacks for the Vanderbilt Defense.
This level of play by the oline represents a change in offensive reality for an o-line that was ranked as low as 127th on the national list when it came to pressure rate. Steve Sarkisian, Texas’ head coach, said: “I thought they played very well.” “It was (Arch’s) best protection all year.” We made a little adjustment … that solidified things. … It allowed him to get through reads.” Texas punted one time. The defense did exactly what it had done all year long: It stopped the run. Vanderbilt’s run game is a constant source of confusion for teams, with its counters, option looks, and eye-candy. Vanderbilt ranks third in the nation with 6.21 yards a carry. Texas made Vanderbilt’s run game a non-factor by limiting it to 2.4 yards. Heisman-contender Diego Pavia was constantly surrounded by Longhorn pass rushers when he dropped back to throw. Texas racked up 10 tackles for losses and six sacks, while the Commodores had just seven sacks on the season.
Hill stated, “We have just returned home and made them feel that we are there. We got them to leave their place.” This was a significant result on a national and conference-wide level. Vanderbilt has no margin of error in the College Football Playoff race 7-2. Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee are the remaining games. The Longhorns are suddenly in the SEC race after this win. For all the angst in Austin, the Longhorns sit at 4-1 in SEC play and control their own destiny in terms of the SEC Championship game with games ahead against Georgia, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Austin will be the hub of the SEC in the final stretch. The SEC race will be decided by the winner of Georgia-Texas. If Texas wins that game, the winner of Texas and Texas A&M is likely for a SEC title spot, too. If you’re interested in the coaching carousel then how Bobby Peterino does against Texas could affect his chances of landing the full-time job at Fayetteville.
The win over Vanderbilt, even against a Vanderbilt top-10 team that was greeted by a humorous “overrated” chant among Texas fans, is only one data point of a long and difficult season. The Longhorns are playing their best this year and at the perfect time. Texas managed to win both in Lexington, and Starkville. The Longhorns entered their bye-week with a lot of momentum and their goals in front of them. Sarkisian emphasized this message when he spoke to his team about the importance the November stretch. Sarkisian told his team, “We’re hungry.” “I did not love our schedule, the fact that we were away 42 days from home but in the end it was probably best for us to grow together, lock arms, fight and compete with a shared goal.”
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2025-11-01 21:45:44
