COLUMBIA, Mo. — Quarterback Arch Manning threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns as Texas overcame injuries and a second-half deficit to defeat Missouri 34-20 on Saturday at Faurot Field.
Ranked No. 7 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings and No. 10 in the Associated Press poll, the Longhorns kept their national postseason hopes alive by scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the game’s final 18 minutes. The victory marked the third consecutive win for Texas (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference), which entered Saturday needing a road victory against ranked Missouri to avoid falling out of playoff contention.
Overcoming key offensive absences
The Longhorns entered the game navigating a wave of major injuries. Standout wide receiver Cam Coleman, who led the SEC with seven receiving touchdowns, was ruled out just prior to kickoff after testing his injury during warm-ups, ESPN reported. Coleman joined starting left tackle Trevor Goosby and running back Hollywood Smothers on the sideline, with both Goosby and Smothers lost for the season due to knee injuries.
Despite being shorthanded, Manning completed 28 of 38 passes. The Texas offense traded field goals with Missouri throughout the first half, entering the locker room tied 10-10 after a 24-yard touchdown reception by Derek Cooper on a reverse screen pass and a 27-yard kick from Gianni Spetic.
Missouri took control late in the third quarter when Austin Simmons connected with sophomore receiver Naeshaun Montgomery on a short throw that Montgomery turned into a 72-yard touchdown, giving the Tigers a 20-13 advantage. The play stood as the longest gain surrendered by the Texas defense all season, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Turning point and late surge
Texas answered immediately on a drive altered by a disputed officiating decision. Facing third-and-10 at the Missouri 39-yard line, Manning was hit as he threw, sending the ball fluttering downfield. Rather than an incomplete pass, officials ruled the play a fumble that Texas recovered for a first down. Replay referee David Smith upheld the call on the field despite replays suggesting a forward pass, the AP reported.
Three plays later, Manning found freshman receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. on a 25-yard touchdown pass to knot the score at 20-20. Manning then directed a go-ahead drive midway through the fourth quarter, connecting with running back Raleek Brown on a 28-yard touchdown pass out of the backfield with 5:03 remaining.
The Texas defense sealed the contest on Missouri’s subsequent possession. Outlets provided differing accounts of the decisive takeaway: the AP reported that a tipped Simmons pass was intercepted by cornerback Graceson Littleton, while the Houston Chronicle reported that Warren Roberson forced a Cayden Lee fumble recovered by Littleton at the Missouri 6-yard line. Brown capitalized moments later, scoring on an eight-yard touchdown run to provide the final margin.
“Right when people want to count us out, we refuse to go away. We continue to fight. We continue to battle,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “The more adversity we get, the tighter we get.”
Manning credited team resilience in hostile road environments, saying, “Coach Sark does a good job of preparing us for being on the road and in fun environments, and coming together, and being a fist when you have those hard times.”
Texas now prepares for another pivotal road matchup next week against No. 14 LSU before closing the regular season against Arkansas and Texas A&M.
