Texas delivered a statement performance in Saturday’s rivalry matchup, routing Arkansas 52-37 in a game that saw the Longhorns pull away late with a 28-3 second-half run to put the game firmly out of reach. While the Razorbacks kept pace early, it was Arch Manning’s historic performance that defined the day and left the college football world buzzing.
Historic Six-Touchdown Day for Arch Manning
Arch Manning put together a truly remarkable day, becoming the first quarterback in Texas football history to record a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in the same game. To put the feat into perspective, only two other quarterbacks in FBS history have done the same without throwing an interception since at least 2000: Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State, 2010) and Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois, 2013).
Manning’s stat line illustrated his dominance:
Four passing touchdowns, three of them to DeAndre Moore Jr.
One rushing touchdown from three yards out, his seventh of the season
One receiving touchdown on a reverse from Parker Livingstone
He literally did it all, leading Texas’ offense with precision, athleticism, and creativity.
Stats Don’t Tell the Whole Story
While the final score made it look like a blowout, the underlying stats painted a closer game. Both teams were nearly identical in passing yards, total yards, and penalty yards. Arkansas actually outgained Texas on the ground, 188-97, and held more first downs, 29-22.
What set Texas apart was explosiveness and opportunism. The Longhorns turned key plays into momentum swings, while Arkansas struggled to convert on critical drives. Some of the Razorbacks’ yardage came in “garbage time” after falling behind by 20-plus points.
Razorbacks Show Some Sparks
Despite the loss, Arkansas had some notable performances. Mike Washington eclipsed 100 rushing yards, and freshman KJ Jackson stepped in for mop-up duty, throwing for 206 yards, one passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. For a first taste of college action, Jackson’s performance was solid, giving the Razorbacks a silver lining in a difficult day.
Texas’ Gameplan and Execution
Credit goes to Coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff for dialing up an aggressive, well-timed offensive game plan. Texas struck early and often, keeping the Razorbacks off balance while giving Manning room to showcase his multi-dimensional skills. After a tough, pressure-filled week following a 35-10 loss to Georgia, the Longhorns answered the bell in style.
Looking Ahead
Texas remains alive, albeit cautiously, in the College Football Playoff conversation with a massive matchup against Texas A&M looming to close the season. For Arkansas, the defeat drops them to 2-9 and extends their losing streak to nine games, cementing a difficult season for the program.
But for one day, the story belonged to Arch Manning; a quarterback who threw, ran, and caught his way into the record books and delivered a performance that will be remembered for years in Austin.