Scoring 21 points in the second half allowed the Longhorns to pull away from the Bulldogs.

AUSTIN, Texas — At 4-0 and No. 1 in the country, the Texas Longhorns are set for their first game in the SEC with the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

So while the program is riding high, injury concerns linger — redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play for a second straight week and the running back position continues to experience injuries with four backs out and another probable for Saturday’s game. Texas is also thin at safety with sophomore Derek Williams out and sophomore Jelani McDonald listed as probable, resulting in super senior Jahdae Barron working as the fourth safety last week.

As some players went through warmups about 100 minutes from game time, Ewers was not among the quarterbacks throwing, although sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., listed as probable with a hip pointer sustained against Louisiana-Monroe, was running routes.

And, indeed, when the official injury report was released, Ewers was officially listed as out:

First quarter

With Texas kicking off to start the game after winning the toss and deferring to the second half, the Longhorns opened SEC play on defense facing true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., the replacement for Baylor transfer Blake Shapen, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Two runs by the Bulldogs picked up eight yards to set up 3rd and 2 for Mississippi State, which was stopped just short of the first down on the run and quickly lined up to go for it, running for a fourth time and picking up the necessary yardage. A strong play from junior nickel back Jaylon Guilbeau setting the edge stopped the Bulldogs at the line of scrimmage, seemingly producing the first passing play for Mississippi State, but Van Buren tucked it on a rollout and gained seven yards to set up another third and short. Undre pressure, Van Buren scrambled again for the first down.

Finally throwing for the first time, Van Buren was hit by junior jack end Ethan Burke on a twist, forcing an incompletion. A designed run for backup quarterback Chris Parson picked up 13 yards to keep the Texas defense on the field, although Mississippi State promptly made an unforced error with a delay of game penalty after Van Buren went back on the field. The Longhorns started to get more aggressive blitzing the run game, but the Bulldogs stuck with it, even on 3rd and 5 at the edge of field-goal range to set up 4th and 4, a completion short of the first-down marker to end the 13-play drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.

In a characteristic opener for Manning, Texas tried to tried a shot down the field with Manning able to survey the field in a clean pocket, eventually connecting with junior wide receiver Matthew Golden for a 22-yard gain with an extra 15 yards added for a facemask penalty. Manning stuck to the air, hitting junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond for 16 yards into the red zone, but promptly lost two yards on a screen pass to senior tight end Gunnar Helm. On a fake screen pass, sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. got open down the sideline, but stepped out just shy of the goal line. In another familiar storyline, junior running back Jaydon Blue scored a one-yard touchdown on the following play.

Remaining intent on running the ball, Mississippi State only picked up two yards, setting up a 3rd and 8 and clear passing situation that resulted in Van Buren trying to hit a small window against Barron and throwing incomplete for a three and out.

Back on offense, the quick start for Manning continued with a 27-yard pass to Bond before his first incompletion — a deflected throw on a run-pass option. Getting the ball back to Bond on a screen pass, the Alabama transfer gained 17 yards behind strong blocking. Another run-pass option produced a short completion to Helm before Blue carried for a modest gain to set up 3rd and 2, but Blue was hit in the backfield and fumbled with Mississippi State recovering.

An effective run by Mississippi State moved the chains on first downs, but super senior linebacker David Gbenda knifed into the backfield for a tackle for loss on the following play and the Bulldogs had to call timeout to avoid another delay of game penalty. On a run-pass options, the Texas defense broke up the pass thanks to sticky coverage by senior safety Andrew Mukuba. With Van Buren under pressure on third down, the pass was deflected, but ended up in the hands of the intended target anyway and the Bulldogs picked up the first down. A holding penalty put Mississippi State in 1st and 20 and then 2nd and 16 to start the second quarter.

Second quarter

Facing 3rd and 8, Van Buren delivered a nice throw down the sideline, but his intended target dropped the pass and the Bulldogs had to punt, a shanked effort that gained only 34 yards.

From an empty formation, Manning tried to layer a pass to senior tight end Juan Davis on first down, but it sailed high for an incompletion. On a Counter play, Texas center Jake Majors was called for holding to negate a seven-yard gain by sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner. Looking for a downfield shot, Manning couldn’t find anyone open and took a sack. On 3rd and 22, Manning checked down to Helm for a seven-yard gain to send the punt unit onto the field.

Going after the punt, Mississippi State got a deflection and excellent field position at the Texas 37-yard line when the effort by freshman Michael Kern traveled just 22 yards.

Three runs by the Bulldogs secured a first down and Mississippi State had a wide receiver running free down the middle, but redshirt junior safety Michael Taaffe recovered to breka up the pass in the end zone. After a short gain on the ground, Van Buren dropped the snap and took a loss on third down, forcing the Bulldogs to attempt a 45-yard field goal that put the visitor’s on the scoreboard.

Wisner seemingly gave the Texas offense a boost by turning a screen that was blown up by Mississippi State into an 12-yard gain on an impressive effort, but the Horns quickly landed in third and long after a run stuff and a check down by Manning for a short gain. Head coach Steve Sarkisian dialed up the right play with sophomore wide receiver Johntay Cook running free down the middle. Manning put the ball on his hands for a potential touchdown pass, but Cook dropped it as the offense stalled once again.

Mississippi State responded with its longest pass play of the game, an 18-yard gain. A short gain on the ground and a false-start penalty put the Bulldogs behind the chains, but Van Buren found a wide receiver open over the middle to move into Texas territory. On 3rd and 3, Mississippi State took the edge for a chunk gain into the red zone. Freshman edge Colin Simmons made a tackle for loss on the next play before settling for a tackle farther down the field on second down. Facing 3rd and 6, Van Buren was stuffed on a quarterback run as the offense stayed on the field at the two-minute timeout. Lebby opted to take the points, however, kicking the 32-yard field goal to make it 7-6.

Blue caught a third-down pass to move the chains, but on second down, freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo hobbled off the field when he was hit catching a screen pass. Bond made a reception on his back as the Texas offense finally appeared to gain some rhythm in its two-minute drill with Manning finding Helm to cross midfield and stop the clock with 45 seconds remaining. Pressure on Manning kept him from connecting with Blue on a wheel route and the Horns were called for a holding penalty on backup right guard Cole Hutson to negate a solid run by Blue. Manning responded, though, standing tall in the pocket and taking a big hit as he delivered a perfect 49-yard touchdown pass to Moore to give the Horns a 14-6 lead before halftime.

Third quarter

Texas started the second half with a 19-yard gain by Blue, but the ball was punched out before he was down at the end of the run and Mississippi State recovered, a play ruled a fumble on review.

The Bulldogs picked up nine yards on a completed pass to start their drive and gained a fresh set of downs with a subsequent short run. On the next play, however, the Texas defense forced its first turnover when senior defensive tackle Vernon Broughton ripped the ball away from Van Buren, the first strip sack by Texas in 37 games dating back to 2021.

Manning completed a nine-yard pass to Golden to open the Texas drive and then drew a facemask penalty trying to leave the pocket on a scramble. Two runs by Wisner set up 3rd and 3, but Helm was flagged for a false start to make it a more difficult down and distance. Sarkisian had the right call for the situation, though — a screen to Bond for a 23-yard gain negated by a holding call on Helm, who gained nine yards on third down to set up a 49-yard field-goal attempt by kicker Bert Auburn. With Mississippi State flagged for offsides, Sarkisian decided to go for it on fourth down, but the resulting ugly play resulted in a turnover on downs when Manning’s throw to Bond never looked like it had a chance in the air.

Poor tackling on an end around produced a 10-yard gain for the Bulldogs and Mississippi State picked up enough yardage on two runs to set up a third and shot converted to sustain the drive. A glance route run-pass option moved the chains again before a block in the back penalty on a reverse put head coach Jeff Lebby’s offense in a difficult down and distance situation facing 2nd and 18. When Van Buren’s intended target slipped on second down, Simmons was able to scream off the edge for a sack to force a punt.

After a 20-yard punt return by senior wide receiver Silas Bolden, the Oregon State transfer caught a screen for a short gain before Manning hit Cook for a bigger gain — 31 yards on an over route. The self-inflicted wounds continued for Texas, however, as right guard DJ Campbell was flagged for a false start. Two good runs by Wisner put Texas in a 3rd and 1 situation as the Bulldogs called a timeout before the play. Freshman running back Jerrick Gibson picked up the first down on his ensuing carry.

Senior center Jake Majors committed a snap infraction for another penalty on the Longhorns, but Manning made up for it with two scrambles to the goal line, the latter of which was reviewed with the call on the field standing as a 26-yard run. Wisner’s carry on the next play was initially ruled a touchdown, then overturned on review. From inside the 1-yard line, Manning needed two quarterback sneaks to score as the Longhorns took a 21-6 lead.

Fourth quarter

Texas benefited from some good luck to open the final quarter when sophomore cornerback Manny Muhammad got beat down the sideline, but the throw from Van Buren was off target. Facing 3rd and 2 after a solid run, Mississippi State picked up the first down with a run up the middle, but redshirt freshman Jack end Colton Vasek responded by sacking Van Buren for a seven-yard loss. On 3rd and 27 after an incompletion and two delay of game penalties, Van Buren scrambled for seven yards.

A good punt down the sideline negated any potential for a return by Bolden and took a favorable bounce for a 60-yard effort to flip the field. Moore picked up seven yards on a screen pass, then helped spring Wisner for a 38-yard gain, the longest of the season for a Texas running back. Three touches by Gibson produced 20 yards, including an eight-yard catch that saw Manning press the pocket and then deliver a late check down. Wisner appeared to score on an impressive 20-yard touchdown, but Hutson was called for another hold. When it appeared the Longhorns had picked up a first down on a screen pass to Golden, another holding call forced Manning to throw a 27-yard touchdown to Moore for a 28-6 lead.

Van Buren came back with the best throw of his day, a dime down the seam between two defenders for a 46-yard gain. In the Texas red zone, Mississippi State needed to convert a 3rd and 5 and did when Van Buren scrambled for a 12-yard touchdown, beating a blitz by Texas. It was only the third touchdown allowed by the Longhorns all season.

Four straight runs by Wisner came close to breaking big plays on two occasions as the Longhorns started to impose their will on the Bulldogs. A 26-yard touchdown run by Bond on a reverse ended the scoring and the Texas defense finished the game on a strong note by sacking Van Buren on a 4th and 15 to end the game in victory formation and a 35-13 win.