Arch Manning had plenty of pressure on him before Texas played No.6 Oklahoma in the “Red River Rivalry” on Saturday. Manning came into the season as a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, but the redshirt sophomore didn’t look sharp to start the campaign as a first-year starter for the Longhorns.
More News: Texas’ Steve Sarkisian Gets Real on Arch Manning Problem
Texas fell out of the rankings with a 29-21 loss to Florida in Week 6. Manning struggled in the defeat, going 16-of-29 passing for 263 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He held on to the ball too long, taking six sacks as the Longhorns fell to 3-2.
Manning and Texas looked better prepared to play Oklahoma on Saturday. The Sooners defense entered the contest tied with Tennessee for creating the most sacks in the country with 21 sacks. While Oklahoma kept Manning in check for most of the game, the quarterback made a few key plays to lead the Longhorns to their fourth win of the season.
More News: Penn State Fans Turn on James Franklin With Brutal Chant
Manning went 21-of-27 passing for 166 yards and one touchdown as Texas defeated Oklahoma 23-6 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. He added another 34 yards on the ground on four carries.
On 3rd-and-2 from the Texas 45-yard line with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Longhorns leading 20-6, Manning made a huge play, rushing for 29 yards and a first down. Following his slide, the quarterback rose and started waving to the crowd, taunting Oklahoma fans heading to the exits.
Four plays later, Texas kicked a field goal to put the game out of reach for the Sooners at 23-6 with under three minutes to play.
The Longhorns have a chance to gain some momentum in the SEC after defeating their arch-rival. They travel to play 2-3 Kentucky in Week 8 before going on the road to play 4-2 Mississippi State on Oct. 25.
The Sooners will travel to play 3-2 South Carolina in Week 8 before hosting No. 4 Ole Miss on Oct. 25.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
Read the full article here
