Takeaways: Manning Shines as No. 20 Texas Holds Off No. 9 Vanderbilt

AUSTIN — On a crisp fall afternoon in Austin, the Texas Longhorns delivered the kind of win that defines a season. Behind a solid performance from quarterback Arch Manning, No. 20 Texas defeated No. 9 Vanderbilt 34-31 in their first home in six weeks.

For three quarters, the game looked like a rout. By the end, it felt like a near-disaster averted. But when the final seconds ticked away inside Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns had secured their most meaningful win of the year — and perhaps the clearest glimpse yet of what this team can be when it plays to its potential.

“I’m proud of our team and really proud of how we came out to play at the start,” Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I thought the offense played well good football today.”

Here are three takeaways from Texas’ win over Vanderbilt:

Manning Finds His Rhythm

Cleared from concussion protocol just 24 hours before kickoff, Manning delivered the kind of performance Longhorn fans have been waiting for. The redshirt sophomore completed 25 of 33 passes for 328 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers, commanding the offense with calm and confidence.

He wasted no time making a statement — connecting with Ryan Wingo on a 75-yard strike on the first play from scrimmage. From there, Manning spread the ball around to eight different receivers, picking apart Vanderbilt’s secondary with quick reads and sharp timing.

“I think it starts with the offensive line,” Manning said. “They played really well today. Our receivers made plays, which makes it easier on me.”

Texas’ offensive line, bolstered by the return of left guard Cole Hutson, gave Manning the protection he needed. Running back Quintrevion Wisner added 75 yards and a touchdown on the ground, giving the Longhorns a balanced attack that kept the Commodores on their heels.

A Fourth-Quarter Gut Check

Up 34–10 entering the final period, Texas appeared ready to cruise. Instead, the game turned tense in a hurry. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia caught fire late, leading a pair of lightning-quick touchdown drives and slicing the deficit to just three points with under two minutes to play.

An onside kick attempt briefly sent a ripple of panic through the stadium before it bounded harmlessly out of bounds — the final break Texas needed to hang on.

“We have to finish better,” linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. admitted. “That’s not the way we want to close out games. But at the same time, a win’s a win in this conference.”

Clean Execution, Costly Lapses

Despite the shaky finish, Texas played its most complete offensive game of the year. The Longhorns converted 7 of 11 third downs and, for the first time in over a month, didn’t commit a turnover.

Defensively, they bottled up Vanderbilt for most of the afternoon, limiting the Commodores to just 210 total yards through three quarters before fatigue finally took a toll. A late breakdown on a 67-yard touchdown pass gave Vanderbilt’s hope — and tested Texas’s composure.

“We have to learn how to handle success,” Sarkisian said. “We got a little too comfortable. That’s not something we can afford against teams like this.”

Up next:

The Texas Longhorns are now 7-2 (4-1, SEC) on the season and will return to the field on November 15 when they face the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens.