Texas Avoids Late Collapse, Upsets Ole Miss 34-27 on Last-Second INT

The Texas Longhorns used an undermanned, yet dominant rushing attack in the second half to overcome a comeback effort by Ole Miss and take down the Rebels 34-27 in Austin on Saturday night.

The No. 7-ranked Rebels made the No. 19 Longhorns sweat after Texas had dropped its first two games of the season in consecutive weeks, with concerns illustrated across national tabloids about head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning.

Ole Miss mounted a 21-point comeback in the second half, received an onside kick in the final minute, and had a last-second heave into the end zone intercepted as time expired.

Texas running back Raleek Brown, playing in place of injured starter Hollywood Smothers (upper-body injury), rushed for a season-high 157 yards. Manning overcame three turnovers to run for two touchdowns and throw for another.

Ole Miss (5-2, 3-2) quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got off to a slow start against a Texas defensive front that was playing without All-American pass rusher Colin Simmons (ankle). Chambliss completed 25 of 52 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Manning finished 18 of 30 for 212 passing yards.

Manning responded to the criticism by leading a 12-play drive on the Longhorns' first possession. He worked quickly and efficiently to start 4 for 4 through the air before a pass into the end zone was nearly intercepted. The drive ended with Gianna Spetic hitting a 23-yard field goal.

The Rebels answered with a field goal after Chambliss' 36-yard completion to Deuce Alexander.

Longhorns left tackle Trevor Goosby was carted off with what appeared to be a knee injury. On Texas' next play from scrimmage, Manning threw an interception to Jalyn Crawford. Then, one play after that, Chambliss was intercepted by Longhorns linebacker Justin Cryer.

Goosby is a top NFL Draft prospect and would not return to the game. He reemerged from halftime using crutches.

Moments later, Cam Coleman let a perfectly placed deep ball by Manning slip through his arms. Texas' drive ended in a punt instead of a walk-in touchdown.

Another long Longhorns series ended in Manning rushing for his first touchdown on the ground this season, putting Texas up 10-3.

Manning's next long heave was to Ryan Wingo and the speedy receiver hauled in a 50-yard touchdown. Texas built on its lead to take advantage of the defense's hounding pressure on Chambliss.

The Longhorns extended their lead to three scores at 24-6 with Michael Terry III running in his first touchdown of the year.

Ole Miss converted a fake punt with a 17-yard run by Oscar Bird, which was good enough to be the longest rush of the night up to that point. The Rebels carried the momentum into a long drive and red zone trip, but Chambliss' fourth-down throw from the 3-yard line was intercepted by Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles.

The Rebels finally got to Manning in Goosby's absence with a crucial turnover. The Texas quarterback was hit as he began his throwing motion, and the fumble bounced into the end zone before being recovered by the Ole Miss defense. In a hurry, it was a 24-10 score to begin the second half.

Kewan Lacy, the explosive Ole Miss running back who has dealt with injuries throughout the season, was slow to get up and needed attending to near the nine-minute mark of the third quarter. Still, Ole Miss was able to use the Longhorns' slow offensive response to get within 24-17 with a touchdown pass from Chambliss to Horatio Fields.

Manning's backup, KJ Lacey, who reportedly received extra first-team snaps in practice this week amid the starter's struggles, entered the game with 5:33 to play in the quarter. He handed the ball off on third-and-long to set up Texas' second straight punt after the fumble.

A pre-snap penalty, Texas' 12th flag of the game, kept the offense in a lull. The Longhorns punted it back to the Rebels quickly to end the period.

A pass interference call on the Longhorns set up Chambliss for a 27-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 24 with the Rebels in complete control.

Manning kept Texas' second-half collapse going with his second interception of the game on the third play of the next series.

The Longhorns finally broke through offensively with Raleek Brown running for 47, 12 and 19 yards on consecutive plays to get down to the Rebels' goal line. Manning's uncontested play-action rushing touchdown put Texas ahead again at 31-24 with eight minutes to play.

Chambliss was incomplete on three straight passes, and the Rebs' 58-yard field goal attempt was blocked at the line of scrimmage, setting up the Longhorns with good field position.

Another long run from Brown kept the clock running and the Texas ground game in rhythm. Spetic hit a 33-yard field goal to put the Longhorns ahead by two scores.

The Rebels elected to kick a 39-yard field goal with 1:26 remaining, and the salvage attempt paid off. Ole Miss recovered the ensuing onside kick to retake possession in a one-score deficit.

Chambliss converted a 3rd-and-10 and a 4th-and-8 with the clock ticking and the Rebels out of timeouts. With six seconds remaining from the Longhorns' 24-yard line, Chambliss' pass to the end zone was incomplete with one second remaining. Ole Miss was backed up on an illegal shift.

Chambliss' next throw was intercepted in the end zone as time expired.

The Longhorns play Mississippi State on Halloween night in Austin while the Rebels return home to face Auburn next Saturday afternoon.