Freshmen highlighted the Longhorns’ first-ever SEC win

The No. 2 Texas Longhorns opened up SEC play with a slow start and strong finish, putting away the Mississippi State Bulldogs thanks to a flurry of late-game scoring.

For the third consecutive contest, the Longhorns put the game away in the fourth quarter thanks to a pair of touchdowns, bringing their fourth-quarter scoring total to 49 points, or just under 10 points per game. In years past, the Longhorns had struggles closing, but in the last several contests they did just that. Their performance, fourth quarter or otherwise, was propelled by young talent looking to leave their mark on the Forty Acres.

Texas: 6 Sacks, 11 Tackles for Loss

It seems like the concerns about the pass rush are far in the rearview, with the Longhorns totaling 12 sacks over the last three games, including the six against Mississippi State. The six against the Bulldogs marks the highest single-game and three-game totals since the 2018 games against Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Kansas. It was also the most sacks allowed by Mississippi State since October of 2021 against Alabama, bringing Texas to 13.

Freshman phenom Colin Simmons once again led the effort for Texas, turning in two sacks on the young Mississippi State quarterback. His four sacks this season already move him to No. 9 by a freshman in school history, just one behind Anthony Hill from a year ago. While he would have to rip off nine more to tie the school record, he’s just two behind Marcus Tubbs from holding the No. 3 spot on the school list. If he manages just two more sacks through the next seven regular season games, he will notch the highest single-season total since Charles Omeniju in 2018.

Arch Manning: 26-31 (83.8%), 324 yards, 2 TD

Arch’s second start was more consistent than his first, despite coach Steve Sarkisian having plenty to “rip” him for during the game, en route to becoming the first Manning to win their SEC debut. Manning looked to be more in command of the offense and the contest, starting the game 5-5 for 81 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t string together another streak that long until late in the third and fourth quarter – completing eight straight for 103 yard and a touchdown to close the game out for Texas and secure his second win as a starter. His efforts tie him with Maalik Murphy, Sam Ehlinger, and Mark McBath at No. 12 all-time for wins by a freshman.

He finished the game with 324 yards and two scores, completing a freshman-record 83.8% of his passes on the day. He also moves up the list of touchdown passes by a freshman quarterback, two shy of Ehlinger’s 2017 mark of 11 for No. 7 by a freshman in school history. While it’s likely his time will be limited in SEC play, the opportunity for garbage time scoring still exists and is something to watch as Manning starts his attack on the Texas record books.

DeAndre Moore: 4 rec, 103 yards, 2 TD

You can’t talk about Manning’s big game without talking about another freshman phenom’s big day, with DeAndre Moore turning in his first 100-yard game as a Longhorn. His 103 yards edge out Xavier Worthy’s 2021 game against Texas Tech for No. 20 all-time, but did it with one fewer reception.

It was not his first game with a touchdown, but he did haul in two, which not only ties him with Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden for the team lead, but puts his name in the record books another time. He becomes one of 12 freshmen in school history with more than three touchdowns, tied with eight other players with three. His next will put him in sole possession of No. 4 all-time and he sits just three behind Jake Smith’s total from 2019 for third place.