Texas quarterback Arch Manning cracked up Holly Rowe after the Longhorns’ upset of Ole Miss by inviting the ESPN sideline reporter to continue covering his games this season.
‘I think you need to start doing our games more,’ the ecstatic Manning said after Texas improved to 5-2 with the 34-27 win in Austin. ‘We’re 3-0 with you this year.’
Rowe, whose postgame interactions with the Longhorns have been surprisingly newsworthy this season, seemed receptive to the invitation.
‘Hey,’ she said, ‘we’ll take it.’
The exchange was a dramatic departure from Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian’s abrupt post-game interview with Rowe following Texas’ upset of then-No. 1 Ohio State on September 12. That awkward exchange led to viral AI fakes, including one of Sarkisian striking Rowe – something Manning referenced in a light-hearted moment with reporters only to later issue a public apology to the ESPN reporter.
But on Saturday in Austin, Manning and Rowe were all smiles as the Longhorns celebrated a major SEC win over Ole Miss.
Manning pointed out that the Longhorns are 3-0 when Rowe covers their games this year
Rowe, whose postgame interactions with the Longhorns have been newsworthy this season, seemed receptive to the invitation and was seen laughing as Manning walked away
Manning was far from perfect, tossing two interceptions and taking a pair of sacks, but he did rush for two scores and throw for another as the Longhorns out-possessed the Rebels by 10 minutes of game time.
‘Our defense came in clutch, that’s what it’s all about,’ Manning told Rowe.
Heading into Saturday, there had been some talk about Manning’s struggles under center this season as Sarkisian opted to give backup KJ Lacey more reps with the first team in practice.
But with Texas holding off a late comeback by Ole Miss, the alma mater of his grandfather Archie and uncle Eli, Manning appears to have reclaimed a firmer grasp on the starter’s job.
The Longhorns nearly squandered a 10-point lead in the final two minutes when receiver Emmett Mosley IV couldn’t hang on to an onside kick and the Rebels recovered to stay alive. But Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss’s pass into the end zone on the final play was intercepted by Jelani McDonald.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, center left, speaks to Manning on the sideline in Austin
Raleek Brown had 157 yards rushing, including a 47-yard run that set up Manning’s 1-yard stroll untouched around the end for a 31-24 lead when his fake handoff fooled everyone.
Manning and Sarkisian cooled the criticism that emerged from consecutive losses to unranked teams that sent the Longhorns (5-2, 2-2 SEC) tumbling from the top spot.
They also avoided the firestorm that would have come from losing a third straight game after going ahead by double digits – each lead bigger than the one before it.
Chambliss threw two touchdown passes to Horatio Fields after Kam Franklin recovered a fumble by Manning in the end zone as the Rebels (5-2, 3-2) erased a 24-3 halftime deficit.
The Longhorns got the ball to start the second half after a goal-line stand just before halftime, but Manning was hit from the blind side by Blake Purchase. Franklin picked up the bouncing ball at the 5, lost control of it and then recovered it in the end zone.
Manning showed off his wheels on Saturday by rushing for a pair of touchdowns vs. Ole Miss
On the next possession, Franklin hit Manning head-on for a sack that put Texas in third-and-16 and sent Manning to the sideline for a medical check.
He tried to come back but was forced to sit for the play. Texas punted after a handoff from backup KJ Lacey Jr. Manning returned on the next series.
Defensive penalties by Texas fueled the drive to Fields’ 6-yard touchdown catch as the Longhorns finished with season highs of 14 penalties for 121 yards.
Fields made a nice contested catch in the end zone from 27 yards to get the Rebels even at 24 early in the fourth.
It was a rough night for Texas receiver Cam Coleman. The high-priced Auburn transfer dropped what should have been an easy 59-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. On the first play of the second half, he fell hard on his left shoulder trying to make a diving catch and had to be helped to the sideline.
