The top-ranked Texas Longhorns are no longer undefeated after two costly interceptions by prized quarterback Arch Manning helped give Oklahoma a 27-24 victory in the latest edition of the Red River Rivalry.
Manning’s final pick came with just 19 seconds left in regulation when sophomore cornerback Courtland Guillory cut in front of Longhorns receiver Cam Coleman along the sideline. Sooners quarterback John Mateer followed with completions of 13 and 20 yards to set up Tate Sandell’s game-winning field goal as time expired.
For Manning, whose first major college win came against a sixth-ranked Oklahoma team last season, Saturday’s defeat could derail a once-promising Heisman Trophy campaign. The grandson of New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli, Arch completed just 19 of 31 passes against Oklahoma for 260 yards.
And while he did have three touchdowns on the day, both of his fourth-quarter interceptions proved costly as Texas fell to 4-1.
The first came shortly after Oklahoma (3-2) tied the game at 17 in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. After three-and-outs by both the Longhorns and Sooners, Manning got the ball back on Texas’ 23-yard line with 11:22 to play. But following a costly 10-yard holding penalty, Manning escaped the Oklahoma pass rush on second down only to throw an easily intercepted pass to the Sooners’ Peyton Bowen, who returned it 42 yards for the touchdown.
Texas’ humiliation continued after the loss when Sooners’ players flashed the ‘horns down’ hand signal – a fist with the index finger and pinky extended downward – only to ignite a near brawl with the Longhorns. Ultimately Texas coach Steve Sarkisian was able to pull his players back towards the sideline and into the tunnel.
For Manning, whose first major college win came against a sixth-ranked Oklahoma team last season, Saturday’s defeat could derail a once-promising Heisman Trophy campaign
Oklahoma Sooners kicker Tate Sandell gives the ‘horns down’ signal after his winning FG
Oklahoma cheerleaders celebrate after defensive back Peyton Bowen returned an Arch Manning interception for a touchdown to take a late lead against rival Texas in Dallas
Sarkisian remained complimentary towards Manning after the loss.
‘I think Arch competed his tail off and he made some tremendous plays to the shots down the field, to the drives when we had to have them,’ Sarkisian told reporters. ‘He’s made a lot of plays scrambling out of the pocket. He went to make a play and the ball gets intercepted on the one they run back.
‘I think you can ask him, but as the competitor in him, he’d love to have that back,’ Sarkisian added of Manning’s first interception on the day. ‘But he’s competing, so there’s the fine line there.
‘Again, the last play of the game for him, they called a good defense, he made a heck of a throw, it was bang, bang. Their kid made a really good play, and you can’t take that away from their guys when they make plays, too.
‘I thought there was a level of confidence, consistency and rhythm with which he was throwing the ball. We’ve got to continue to run the ball better so it’s not all on his shoulders.’
Texas did gain 122 yards on 32 carries on Saturday, but top back Hollywood Smothers averaged just 3.3 yards on 12 carries for.
Frustrated Texas fans react to the Longhorns’ loss in the latest edition of the Red River Rivarly
Sooners cheerleaders give the ‘horns down’ hand sign after beating rival Texas in Dallas
While Sarkisian was kind, Manning faced considerable criticism online after the loss. Once the top recruit in the country coming out of New Orleans’ Isidore Newman School, where his uncles and father Cooper played, Manning now has three interceptions on the season to go with seven touchdowns.
‘Arch Manning makes some knuckleheaded mistakes,’ one fan wrote on X, echoing sentiments felt across the country on Saturday.
‘Hate to say it, but Arch is overrated & has so much to learn,’ another wrote. ‘His field awareness is is puzzling.’
One fan predicted the redshirt junior will definitely be back in Austin in 2027 rather than following his uncles and grandfather into the NFL: ‘Looking like another year in college for young Arch Manning.’
Things won’t get any easier for the Longhorns going forward in the SEC, where No. 16 Florida, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 17 Mississippi State and No. 10 LSU are still waiting on the schedule, not to mention November matchups with long-time rivals Arkansas and Texas A&M.
