Arch Manning throws 3 TDs as Texas defense shuts down Mississippi State

Arch Manning threw for three touchdowns and Maraad Watson returned a fumble 61 yards for a score to lead No. 11 Texas to a 31-3 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday night in Austin.

The defensive unit produced a stifling performance that kept the Bulldogs scoreless for the first 30 minutes of the game. Texas (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) won its second straight game after losing two consecutive matches earlier in the season. The result positions the Longhorns as a strong contender for the conference championship.

Watson, a 333-pound defensive tackle, secured the ball after Mississippi State transfer quarterback AJ Swann was sacked. Swann was making his first start of the season due to an injury to starter Kamario Taylor. Watson had a clear path to the end zone and scored just before the halftime break. The impact of the play also injured Swann, who left the game with a sore right arm.

"By the 15 I was getting tired," Watson said. "I said to myself, 'I have to make it.'" He credited the offensive line for creating the opening. The fumble was forced by Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles, who also recorded three sacks and two forced fumbles in the win.

Manning found Cam Coleman for a 14-yard touchdown on the fourth play of the game. He later connected with Raleek Brown in the third quarter and Emmett Mosely V in the fourth quarter to extend the lead. The Mississippi State defense, which sacked Manning six times, struggled to maintain its pressure as the game progressed. The Bulldogs (4-4, 2-4) have now lost four straight games after starting the season 4-0.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian noted that the team is still developing its identity. "I don't know what our potential is. We're a growing team that continues to find ways to win," Sarkisian said. The Longhorns will play three of their final four regular-season games on the road, starting with a trip to Missouri on Nov. 7.

Mississippi State faces a quarterback dilemma for its Nov. 7 game against Vanderbilt. Parker Puckett, a walk-on, took over for the injured Swann in the second half. Coach Jeff Lebby acknowledged the frustration of the loss but emphasized the need for execution. "My stress is make the layups," Lebby said. "We're not good enough to overcome things right now."

Texas will monitor the health of Coleman, who left the game early for the second time in a row. The team did not specify the nature of his issue, but he was seen in street clothes on the sideline during the second half. The Longhorns remain focused on their upcoming schedule despite the offensive line struggles that plagued them against Mississippi State.