Arch Manning, Raleek Brown Power Texas Past Missouri In 34-20 Win

Texas quarterback Arch Manning didn't have his full complement of offensive weapons Saturday, but the Longhorns still found a way to deliver another statement victory against a ranked opponent.

Manning threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, while Raleek Brown scored twice in the fourth quarter as No. 7 Texas rallied past No. 18 Missouri 34-20 at Faurot Field.

MORE: No. 7 Texas Survives Another Late Scare, Hooks No. 18 Mizzou 34-20

The Longhorns (7-2, 4-2 SEC) earned their third consecutive victory and fourth win over an AP Top 25 opponent this season, strengthening their College Football Playoff résumé with another impressive road performance.

But it certainly wasn't easy.

Missouri (6-3, 3-3) took a 20-13 lead late in the third quarter when quarterback Austin Simmons connected with Naeshaun Montgomery for a 72-yard touchdown.

Texas responded with 21 unanswered points.

Manning found freshman receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game before connecting with Brown on a 23-yard scoring pass that gave Texas its first lead of the second half with 5:03 remaining.

Brown added an eight-yard touchdown run with 1:25 left, putting the finishing touches on a victory that looked anything but certain earlier in the afternoon.

Brown finished with 133 yards from scrimmage, including 85 rushing yards on 17 carries and 48 receiving yards.

Manning completed 28 of 38 passes, connecting on nearly 74 percent of his attempts without throwing an interception.

Freshman running back Derrek Cooper also contributed a 24-yard touchdown reception, marking his first career receiving score.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised his team's determination after the game.

“We're big game hunters, we showed up today,” Sarkisian said.

The Longhorns' defense made sure the late offensive surge wouldn't go to waste.

Texas held Missouri scoreless in the second and fourth quarters, limiting the Tigers to 84 rushing yards and 336 total yards.

Justin Cryer, Rasheem Biles and Derek Williams Jr. each recorded six tackles, while Biles contributed two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.

Jonathan Cunningham also blocked a second-quarter Missouri punt, setting up a tying field goal by Gianni Spetic.

Texas finished with 401 total yards and converted all four red-zone opportunities into points.

The Longhorns have now won six consecutive games against ranked opponents, continuing a remarkable stretch under Sarkisian.

The victory also keeps Texas firmly in the national playoff conversation heading into another difficult SEC road test.

MORE: Longhorns at Missouri: How To Watch Crucial SEC Showdown

Next up is a Saturday trip to Baton Rouge against LSU, where the Longhorns will try to extend their winning streak and take another step toward the postseason.

For a Texas team that's dealt with injuries and inconsistency, Saturday's fourth-quarter performance offered something increasingly important: proof it can finish against quality competition.