Texas Faces Must-Win Showdown With Ole Miss: TV, Time And Odds

The Texas Longhorns are running out of room for mistakes, and Saturday night's showdown with No. 7 Ole Miss could determine whether their College Football Playoff hopes remain realistic.

No. 19 Texas (4-2) welcomes the Rebels (5-1) to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. The Southeastern Conference matchup will be televised nationally on ABC.

MORE: Texas Injury Report Update Sets Up Brutal Test vs. Ole Miss

Steve Sarkisian's Longhorns desperately need a turnaround after consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida knocked them out of the national championship conversation.

Surprisingly, oddsmakers still favor Texas against a top-10 opponent.

For the Longhorns, the biggest question centers on quarterback Arch Manning and an offense that hasn't consistently delivered against quality competition.

Texas is averaging 30.2 points and 361.3 total yards per game, but the rushing attack has struggled, producing just 134.5 yards per contest.

The Longhorns have also covered the point spread only once in six games this season.

Ole Miss presents a considerably different challenge.

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss directs an explosive Rebels offense averaging 37.5 points and 290.7 passing yards per game.

However, Texas has been particularly effective defending the pass, allowing just 166.2 yards per game through the air, ranking 12th nationally.

That matchup could determine Saturday's outcome.

The Longhorns must also take advantage of an Ole Miss defense surrendering 236.5 passing yards per game, creating potential opportunities for Manning and receiver Ryan Wingo.

Texas and Ole Miss have split their previous two meetings, with the Rebels winning 44-23 in Austin in 2013 after the Longhorns claimed a 66-31 victory in Oxford in 2012.

Saturday's matchup carries considerably greater postseason implications.

A victory would give Texas a signature SEC win and strengthen its position in the national rankings.

Another loss, however, would leave the Longhorns with three defeats and an increasingly difficult path back into College Football Playoff contention.

For Sarkisian and Manning, the opportunity is clear.

Beat a top-10 opponent at home, and the conversation surrounding Texas football changes considerably.

WHAT: No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels (5-1) at Texas Longhorns (4-2)

WHERE: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium | Austin, Texas

WHEN: Saturday | Oct. 24, 2026

TV/STREAMING: ABC | Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe | ESPN App, ABC.com and live-TV streaming services carrying ABC

RADIO: Longhorn Radio Network and Texas Longhorns mobile app

BETTING ODDS via DRAFTKINGS

SPREAD: Ole Miss +3.5

TOTAL: 52.5

MONEYLINE: Ole Miss +136 | UT -162 

The spread opened at approximately Texas -3 before moving to 3.5 points. Betting odds are subject to change before kickoff.