'Arrogant' Arch Manning & Longhorns Avoid Another Epic Meltdown In Win

Same second-half collapse. Identical opponent’s point total.

But this time - on a do-or-die, nail-biting Saturday night in Austin - the Texas Longhorns produced a different result.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s former No. 1-ranked team saved what is left of this season with a dramatic 34-27 victory over Ole Miss … one that was inches away from another epic meltdown.

Texas built a 24-3 halftime lead and led by 10 with 1:30 remaining, but had to dodge a Hail Mary as time expired. After two Longhorns muffed the same onside kick to give Ole Miss one final chance to tie the game, senior safety Jelani McDonald finally allowed DKR Stadium to exhale when he intercepted quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ pass in the end zone on the game’s final play.

As they did in losses to Oklahoma and Florida, the Longhorns gave up 27 points and were dominated in the second half. Their 21-point halftime lead evaporated just a minute into the fourth quarter. But this time the running game bailed out a wildly inconsistent Arch Manning.

Tied at 24-24 - and out of nowhere - running back Raleek Brown ripped off a 47-yard run, followed by a 12- and 19-yarders by Michael Terry. The three consecutive carries for 68 yards came after the ’Horns gained exactly zero rushing yards on their first five second-half possessions. The drive culminated in Arch’s 1-yard bootleg keeper for a touchdown, and Brown had two rushes for another 40 yards on the next drive to set up a field goal and a 34-24 lead.

It was barely enough. ... though part of Sark's analysis was all about praise for his QB.

"One thing I know about Arch Manning, he's a fighter," Sarkisian said. "I like the edgy, kind of borderline arrogant, full-of-swagger Arch. I just feel like that's when he's at his best."

"Best''?

Well, in their best half of football this season, 19th-ranked Texas looked like the best team in the nation. They dominated 7th-ranked Ole Miss in every facet. The 24-3 lead could have been even bigger had receiver Cam Coleman not dropped Manning’s perfectly thrown bomb that should have been a walk-in touchdown.

But as good as they were early, the ’Horns were again ugly late.

Manning threw two interceptions and suffered a strip-sack for a touchdown and Texas was penalized a whopping 14 times for 134 yards. They were outscored 24-10 in the second half, after getting beaten 14-10, 20-7 and 17-7 in the previous three games.

Arch was better. Sark was better. Texas was better. But still far, far from perfect. ... and probably not quite worthy of being "arrogant.''