Longhorns Rout Bulldogs 31-3 Behind Manning's Triple Threat

A Decisive Home Victory

The No. 11 Texas Longhorns dismantled the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a 31-3 victory in front of a crowd of 103,586 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 31. The home team’s dominance was evident early, as quarterback Arch Manning connected on three touchdown passes to secure a comfortable lead.

The performance improved the Longhorns' record to 6-2, while the Bulldogs dropped to 4-4 on the season. There was no close contest in Austin, as Texas controlled the tempo and the scoreboard throughout all four quarters.

First-Half Momentum

Texas struck first in the opening period when Cam Coleman hauled in a 14-yard pass from Manning, giving the Longhorns a 7-0 lead. The offense continued to move the ball efficiently in the second quarter, with kicker Gianni Spetic extending the advantage to 10-0 with a 45-yard field goal.

The gap widened further when Maraad Watson returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown, pushing the score to 17-0 by the halftime break. Mississippi State found no answer on the ground or in the air, failing to generate a single point in the first half.

Third-Quarter Scoring

The Bulldogs finally crossed the goal line in the third quarter, with Kyle Ferrie booting a 30-yard field goal to make it 17-3. However, Texas immediately responded to maintain control. Manning found Raleek Brown on a four-yard strike for a touchdown, restoring a 14-point cushion.

The Longhorns' defense remained stout, limiting the visiting offense to just three points for the entire game. The scoring sequence in the third quarter highlighted the disparity in execution between the two teams, with Texas converting opportunities into points while Mississippi State struggled to sustain drives.

Final Stretch and Statistics

The fourth quarter served as a formality, with Manning capping his night by throwing a 42-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Mosley V. The play sealed the 31-3 final score. Manning finished with an impressive 16 of 20 completions for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, Raleek Brown rushed for 30 yards on eight carries, while Mosley V led the receiving corps with 98 yards on four catches. For Mississippi State, AJ Swann completed 12 of 15 passes for 97 yards, and Fluff Bothwell rushed for 49 yards on 17 carries. Marquis Johnson was the top receiver for the Bulldogs with 61 yards on six receptions.

The Longhorns' balanced attack and efficient passing game proved too much for the Bulldogs to overcome in Austin.

Sources

ESPN