AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning played the hero’s role in a rivalry renewed, delivering a statement performance that might just propel the Longhorns into playoff contention while shattering the championship dreams of their in-state rivals.
No. 16 Texas stunned third-ranked Texas A&M 27-17 on Friday night, ending the Aggies’ undefeated season and knocking them out of the SEC Championship Game in a rivalry matchup that lived up to its considerable hype. Manning threw a touchdown pass and ran for the clinching score late in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns rallied from a halftime deficit.
Manning Magic
The sophomore quarterback, who has faced intense scrutiny all season, found his rhythm when it mattered most. After a shaky start, Manning completed nine of his last 12 passes for 151 yards, spreading the ball to six different receivers. But it was his legs that delivered the knockout blow — a 35-yard touchdown scamper with 7:04 remaining that put Texas ahead for good.
“If you let us in, we can beat anyone,” Manning said after the game. “If you don’t think we’re one of the best 12 teams in the country, I don’t know what to tell you.” His confidence was evident throughout a second half in which he took complete control of the contest.
How quickly the tide turned. Texas A&M held a comfortable 10-3 lead at halftime before the Longhorns unleashed a furious third-quarter assault, scoring 17 unanswered points to seize momentum in front of a frenzied home crowd at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Ground Game Dominance
While Manning will grab the headlines, Texas running back Quintrevion Wiser was perhaps the game’s true workhorse, rushing for a season-high 155 yards. The Longhorns’ ground attack erupted in the second half, wearing down an Aggie defense that had been nearly impenetrable through their first eleven games.
Texas improved to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in SEC play with the victory, while Texas A&M dropped to 11-1 overall and 7-1 in conference action — still impressive, but no longer perfect.
Heisman Hopes Dimmed
For Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, a late-season Heisman Trophy contender who had captivated college football fans with his heroics, Friday night proved to be a bitter disappointment. Reed threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, including a devastating pick at the Texas 3-yard line that snuffed out a promising Aggie drive.
“Their front played a lot harder that ours. They just had a better game plan in the second half for us,” Reed admitted afterward, his Heisman hopes likely diminished alongside his team’s championship aspirations.
That said, the Aggies aren’t completely out of the national championship picture. Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York tried to maintain perspective despite the crushing defeat. “Hurts a lot. But you got to regroup and get ready for the playoffs,” he noted, acknowledging that while the SEC title is no longer attainable, a national championship remains within reach.
Playoff Implications
For Texas, the victory potentially reshapes the College Football Playoff conversation. Coach Steve Sarkisian made an impassioned case for his team’s inclusion in the 12-team field.
“We are absolutely a playoff team and worthy of an opportunity to play for a national championship,” Sarkisian declared in his post-game comments, suggesting that Texas should be rewarded rather than punished for scheduling powerhouse Ohio State in non-conference play.
The Longhorns’ three losses — all to ranked opponents — have come by a combined 11 points, including a controversial overtime defeat to Ohio State early in the season that many observers felt Texas should have won.
In the end, what began as Texas A&M’s coronation turned into Texas’s resurrection. As the final seconds ticked away and students prepared to storm the field, the message was clear: The Longhorns aren’t just back in the rivalry — they might just be back on the national stage as well.
