Arch Manning, Texas barely save soap opera season with thrilling Ole Miss victory

Arch Manning crossed his arms after a TD run with fireworks exploding in the background. He stomped around the sideline in defiance. He walked into the end zone for the go-ahead TD.

Manning delivered the gotta-have-it game with No. 19 Texas on the brink, even if it was dicey after a second-half comeback by No. 7 Ole Miss. The Longhorns survived in a 34-27 victory.

So, this is what we get after Texas coach Steve Sarkisian described Manning as "edgy" this week? It is worth the experience, right?

Texas (5-2, 2-2 SEC) jumped out to a three-TD lead on the Rebels (5-2, 3-2 SEC). Manning finished 18 of 30 for 212 yards and three total TDs, albeit with two interceptions and a fumble. He summed up that experience in the postgame interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe. MORE: Which of the SEC 7 two-loss teams has best chance to make CFP?

"I think all week we just said, 'Whatever it takes,' and got the win," Manning said. "I think you need to start doing our games more. We're 3-0 with you this year."

Those three games were decided by a combined total of seven points. The Longhorns held off a furious comeback led by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who finished 25 of 52 for 250 yards, two TDs and three interceptions. Chambliss tried to tie the score on the game's final play, but Jelani McDonald, who had the pass breakup on a Hail Mary in the 20-17 victory against Tennessee on Sept. 26, came up with the game-clinching interception.

Manning and Texas remain the soap opera of the 2026 season, and this was yet another cliffhanger for the two-loss Longhorns in the jumbled SEC playoff race. MORE: Meet Arch Manning's entire extended family

Arch Manning leads Texas to huge halftime lead

Here is what we learned after the Longhorns' victory. Backup quarterback KJ Lacey, who was rumored to be in the mix for more first-team reps in the aftermath of Texas' 27-24 loss to Florida in Week 7, will not be the starter this season. Lacey played one snap after Manning took a hard hit in the third quarter.

Manning transfer rumors, as they have for the past four years, will fizzle again. Manning could still enter the 2027 NFL Draft and be a first-round pick. Texas' season-long script with Manning, in all its drama, is far from finished.

Manning took his own advice and "let it rip" against the Rebels. That started in the first quarter with a 43-yard pass to Ryan Wingo and a 23-yard run by Raleek Brown, who trucked Ole Miss safety Joenel Aguero on the run. Manning scored on a 2-yard run and struck a pose in the end zone.

Manning was not finished. A 19-yard scramble by Manning set up a 50-yard TD pass to Wingo for a 17-3 lead with 12:38 left in the third quarter. Michael Terry III added a 3-yard TD run to extend the lead to 24-3.

Manning was 13 of 19 for 171 yards, a TD and an interception in the first half. Chambliss was 6 of 18 for 63 yards and two interceptions, including a fourth-and-goal interception to Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles with 1:37 left in the half. This looked like the game where Manning would silence all the critics. MORE: Where does Steve Sarkisian rank among CFB;s highest paid coaches?

This is Texas, after all, which was coming off losses to Oklahoma and Florida the last two weeks. The Sooners and Gators outscored the Longhorns 37-14 in the second half over the last two weeks.

Manning lost a fumble on a sack by Blake Purchase, which Kam Franklin recovered in the end zone at the 13:28 mark in the third quarter. The Rebels trimmed the lead to 24-17 on a 6-yard TD pass from Chambliss to Horatio Fields with 6:46 left in the third quarter. The Longhorns had just two first downs in the third quarter.

That set up the fourth quarter. Chambliss tied the score with a 27-yard TD pass to Fields with 13:57 left in the fourth quarter.

Texas answered with a six-play, 80-yard drive that came exclusively on the ground. Brown had a 47-yard run up the middle, which was the Longhorns' first chunk play of the second half. Terry had runs of 19 and 12 yards, respectively, and Manning walked in a 1-yard TD on a bootleg with 8:04 remaining.

Alex January blocked an Ole Miss field-goal attempt, and Gianni Spetic gave Texas a 34-24 lead on a 33-yard field goal with 2:25 remaining.

You knew it wasn't over. Lucas Carneiro kicked a 39-yard field goal, the Rebels recovered the ensuing onside kick and Chambliss nearly led a game-tying drive before the final interception.

"I was pacing and said a few prayers, but our defense came up clutch," Manning said. "That's what it's all about." MORE: How a bad day for the Big 12 impacted hurt league's CFP outlook

The Longhorns still have issues. Edge rusher Colin Simmons (ankle) and running back Hollywood Smothers (shoulder) missed Saturday's game. Tackle Trevor Goosby was carted off with an injury in the first quarter, and receiver Cam Coleman left with a shoulder injury in the third quarter. Texas had 14 penalties for 134 yards.

Yet if the College Football Playoff rankings came out Tuesday, the Longhorns would probably be in the top 12 based on victories against Ole Miss, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 11 Tennessee. No other team has three victories against teams inside the top 12 at this point.

We'll find out more over the next two weeks in road games against No. 22 Missouri and No. 18 LSU. Texas needs even more out of Manning; otherwise, the doom-and-gloom cycle will start again with a third loss. Is there a more entertaining drama in college football right now?