Arch Manning led the Texas Longhorns to a 34-20 victory over No. 18 Missouri on Saturday at Faurot Field with one of the cleanest performances of his career. Manning completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception or losing a fumble, lifting Texas from a 20-13 deficit to a 27-20 lead in the second half.
After the game, Manning was modest when asked if this was his best outing of the season. "I don't know," he said. "I've got to watch the film." But those watching live, including some fans on the sideline, saw it as his strongest showing yet in 2026. The quarterback’s recent form has been an improvement since the team’s loss to Florida, and this game continued a six-game winning streak against ranked opponents dating back to last season.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian praised the team’s resilience, while defensive tackle Hero Kanu emphasized Manning’s influence beyond the offense. “Yeah, he's a team dude, not just offense. It's everybody,” Kanu said. “We feed off his energy. His energy was electric, him staying with us on the d-line, talking and getting us hyped.” Manning was notably active on the sideline late in the game, rallying the defense before Warren Roberson forced a fumble that Graceson Littleton scooped up and returned 44 yards to set up the clinching score.
Manning’s leadership has remained steady despite some inconsistency earlier in the season. As a fourth-year starter, he has maintained quiet confidence throughout, earning the respect of teammates across the roster. The win on Saturday was a gritty road victory, Manning acknowledged. “It was a long week. I'm glad we had a little gritty road win,” he said.
This season, Manning’s numbers lag behind his pace from the final stretch of 2025, when he averaged 285.6 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions in the last six games. Currently, he has 2,024 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes, and two rushing scores with three games remaining. He is on track to surpass 3,000 passing yards for the season, a milestone previously reached only by Vince Young and Colt McCoy in Texas history, who also combined strong rushing and passing stats.
The Longhorns have been dealing with injuries to important contributors, including wide receiver Cam Coleman and defensive standout Colin Simmons. Their return could boost Texas’s chances as they prepare for upcoming games against LSU, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. Saturday’s victory over Missouri coincided with losses by No. 1 Miami and No. 4 Kentucky, potentially opening a path for Texas to climb in the rankings.
Manning’s approach against Missouri was methodical: play clean, take what the defense gives, and push downfield when opportunities arise. A win at LSU next weekend would give Texas a national-best fifth victory over a ranked opponent this season and likely secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. Manning’s showing Saturday provided a clear example of how he can lead the Longhorns through the final stretch of the season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
