Texas Shocks Aggies with Late Heroics from Manning

Post by : Mina Rahman

In a stunning turn of events on Friday night, Texas brought Texas A&M's perfect season to a screeching halt with a 27-17 victory, featuring two key late-game scores from Arch Manning. The closely contested game took a decisive shift when Manning threw a 29-yard touchdown to Ryan Wingo in the third quarter. His impressive 35-yard run in the fourth quarter ultimately clinched the win, igniting jubilant celebrations among the home crowd.

With this victory, Texas improved their record to 9-3, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. The team started the season highly ranked, saw their position slip midseason, but now proudly boasts three wins against top-10 teams. Coach Steve Sarkisian emphasized that their challenging schedule, including a tough opener against Ohio State, could bolster their playoff bid.

Texas A&M, boasting an unblemished record of 11-0 heading into this matchup, was vying for a spot in the SEC championship game for the first time since joining the conference in 2012. However, following back-to-back interceptions by quarterback Marcel Reed, who had been gaining traction in the Heisman race, the Aggies struggled to regain their momentum in the second half.

Although A&M held a 10-3 lead at halftime, Texas erupted for 17 consecutive points. The Aggies managed to narrow the score to 20-17, but Manning's crucial third-down run dashed any hopes for a late comeback. He concluded the game impressively, completing nine of his last twelve passes for 151 yards and distributing the ball among six different receivers.

Texas also displayed a revived rushing attack, highlighted by Quintrevion Wiser's season-best 155 rushing yards. A&M’s offense struggled to find its rhythm again after Reed briefly exited the game due to an ankle injury.

With both teams now awaiting the College Football Playoff rankings on December 7, Texas is eyeing bowl placements while asserting their claim to a top twelve ranking. While A&M remains a probable playoff contender, this loss will be a bitter memory in the ongoing rivalry.

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