Texas nearly transformed one of its most impressive performances of the season into a spectacular collapse Saturday night, but the Longhorns survived a furious Ole Miss comeback to secure a 34-27 victory.
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The contest featured just about everything college football fans could ask for: explosive plays, turnovers, a dramatic comeback, and a final defensive stand.
For Texas, the victory was particularly important following consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Another defeat would have seriously damaged the Longhorns’ postseason aspirations.
Early in the evening, that didn’t appear likely.
Texas jumped ahead 10-3 in the first quarter and completely controlled the second period, adding two touchdowns to establish a commanding 24-3 halftime lead.
Quarterback Arch Manning provided both passing and rushing production, creating problems for an Ole Miss defense that struggled to contain him.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss experienced a disastrous opening half.
Three interceptions helped Texas build its substantial advantage and left the Rebels facing an enormous second-half challenge.
But Pete Golding’s team wasn’t ready to surrender.
Ole Miss emerged from halftime playing with renewed energy, scoring 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to reduce the deficit to 24-17.
The Rebels continued their comeback early in the fourth quarter, adding another touchdown to tie the contest at 24.
Just like that, a game that appeared headed toward a Texas blowout had become a battle for survival.
To its credit, Texas regained its composure.
Manning delivered a crucial fourth-quarter rushing touchdown, his second of the evening, to put the Longhorns back in front.
Texas later added a field goal, extending its advantage to 34-24.
Ole Miss answered with a field goal of its own, reducing the margin to seven points.
The Rebels then recovered an onside kick in the closing minutes, providing one final opportunity to send the contest into overtime.
Chambliss moved the offense into position for a desperation attempt, but Texas defensive back Jelani McDonald intercepted his pass in the end zone on the game’s final play.
The Longhorns had survived.
Manning finished with a touchdown pass and two rushing touchdowns. Chambliss completed 25 of 52 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Texas improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC competition, while Ole Miss dropped to 5-2 and 3-2.
For the Rebels, the defeat was especially frustrating because their second-half performance demonstrated that they were capable of competing with Texas.
Unfortunately, the three first-half interceptions created a deficit that ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Texas deserves credit for responding when its 21-point advantage disappeared. But the Longhorns also need to address the defensive problems that allowed Ole Miss to get back into the contest.
The victory keeps Texas in the postseason discussion, while Ole Miss faces increased pressure heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Both programs have enough talent to challenge strong opponents. Saturday’s contest also demonstrated that both remain capable of making costly mistakes.
That’s not unusual in SEC football, where even a comfortable halftime lead can disappear in a hurry.
