If you tuned into Saturday’s game with 11:40 left in the fourth quarter, there’s a good chance you would have changed the channel. Less than a minute earlier, Mississippi State running back Davon Booth had broken free for a massive 62-yard touchdown reception, giving the Bulldogs a 38-21 lead over the Longhorns. In fact, ESPN’s analytics gave Texas just a 1.4% chance to win. But what followed was anything but predictable – the Longhorns clawed back for a gritty, come-from-behind 45–38 overtime win that’s bound to become a classic.
Pregame Chaos & Fourth Quarter Magic
Hours before kickoff, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that representatives of Steve Sarkisian had informed NFL teams that the Texas head coach might be interested in making the jump to the pros. After receiving a raise in January and leading a struggling Texas team in 2025, the timing of Saturday’s news couldn’t have been more questionable. As a result, there was no telling how the Longhorns would respond. Whether the report was true or not, it dominated the day’s headlines. Furthermore, after a near-loss to Kentucky, the team’s season outlook was already trending in the wrong direction.
However, on Saturday – when the team needed it most – they found an answer. In the fourth quarter, after a season filled with offensive woes, the Longhorns put together four scoring drives. Led by Arch Manning’s two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and a heroic 79-yard punt return touchdown by Ryan Niblett to even things up with 1:47 left in regulation, Texas managed to do the unimaginable.
Then, in overtime, it appeared Texas had suffered a setback when Manning left the game with an injury. However, true to this team’s resilient nature, the Longhorns once again had an answer. Backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell entered the game, called an audible, and delivered a beautiful red-zone fade to Emmett Mosley V for a touchdown – Mosley’s second of the game. The connection gave Texas a 45–38 lead, and the defense sealed the victory by shutting out the Bulldogs on their final possession.
The 17-point comeback was Texas’ largest fourth-quarter rally since 2007.
The Good & The Bad
The Texas defense has been a strength all season. That’s nothing new under Steve Sarkisian and Pete Kwiatkowski, but this year’s group has shown flashes of inconsistency. Last week’s win over Kentucky came largely thanks to the defense, though a few drives raised questions. On Saturday, the unit gave up 445 yards and 38 points to Mississippi State. Still, when it mattered most, it stepped up – forcing seven sacks, including Ethan Burke’s strip sack in overtime to clinch the win.
Offensively, the turnaround was drastic. After a quick touchdown on the opening drive, Texas stalled, scoring just seven more points until the fourth quarter. Then, with the season slipping away, the Longhorns caught fire – erupting for 24 unanswered points after trailing 38–21.
The big question now: can this offense start fast and stay consistent? Manning’s health adds even more uncertainty after he suffered a concussion in overtime.
Looking Ahead
Next weekend, Texas hosts the tenth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores at DKR. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
