Texas Extends Winning Streak With 31-3 Victory Over Mississippi State

No. 11 Texas defeated Mississippi State 31-3 on Saturday night in Austin, extending its winning streak to two games and maintaining pressure on the Southeastern Conference title race. The Longhorns improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Mississippi State fell to 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the SEC.

Arch Manning led the Texas offense with three touchdown passes, while Maraad Watson provided a crucial scoring spark with a 61-yard fumble return just before halftime. The defensive performance was central to the outcome, as the Longhorns held the Bulldogs to just three points and limited them to under 300 yards of total offense.

Manning found Cam Coleman for a 14-yard touchdown on the fourth play of the game, giving Texas an early lead. The score remained 10-0 in Texas’s favor until Watson capitalized on a defensive stop in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State quarterback AJ Swann was sacked by Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles, and the loose ball fell directly to Watson. The 6-foot-3, 333-pound defensive tackle ran the ball 61 yards for a touchdown, assisted by teammates who blocked pursuit defenders.

Watson said he was getting tired by the time he reached the 15-yard line but decided he had to finish the play. The hit from Biles also forced Swann to leave the game with an injury. Swann, a transfer making his first start of the season due to an injury to starter Kamario Taylor, had completed 12 of 15 passes before exiting the contest.

The game turned into a defensive struggle in the first half, but Texas gained momentum in the second half. Manning connected with Raleek Brown for a third-quarter touchdown and Emmett Mosely V for a fourth-quarter score, turning the contest into a late rout. The Mississippi State defense had sacked Manning six times and struggled to stay on the field as the game progressed.

Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby acknowledged the frustration of the loss, noting that the team is not currently good enough to overcome mistakes like false starts. He highlighted the specific errors that occurred early in the game, including a false start on the first third down and another on a fourth-and-2 situation later in the opening drive.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised the team’s resilience after dropping two consecutive midseason games earlier in the year. He described the squad as a growing team that continues to find ways to win. Sarkisian noted that the Longhorns have better football left to play in their remaining schedule.

Biles finished the game with eight tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. The Pitt transfer has been Texas’ most impactful defensive player this season, especially with sack leader Colin Simmons sidelined with an injury. Biles credited the entire defensive unit for its effort, noting that his statistical output was a result of the group’s performance.

Texas will face injury concerns with Coleman, who left the game early for the second consecutive contest. The team did not immediately disclose the nature of his issue, but he was seen in street clothes on the sideline during the second half. The Longhorns will play their next game on the road at Missouri on Nov. 7, while Mississippi State hosts Vanderbilt on the same date.