In the biggest game of his college football career so far, Texas quarterback Arch Manning grew into the superstar he was touted to be with the nation watching.
No. 16 Texas (9-3) earned a huge rivalry win over No. 3 Texas A&M (11-1) in Austin on Friday in large part thanks to the second-half play of Manning.
Manning was only 8-of-21 for 51 yards in the first half, and the Longhorns trailed the Aggies 10-3 at the break. Texas had an opportunity to kick a field goal and cut the A&M lead to four at the break, but an intentional grounding penalty incurred by Manning took that opportunity away.
Arch Manning lights up the scoreboard in second half
But with the help of a Texas defense that rattled TAMU QB Marcel Reed in the second half, Manning and the ‘Horns scored 24 second-half points in a winning effort.
Texas’ first drive of the second half netted three points, but a strike from Manning to Ryan Wingo on the next UT possession gave the Longhorns the lead and gave Manning some confidence.