No. 10 Texas came from behind in the second half to beat No. 19 Missouri 34-20 on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. Arch Manning threw three touchdown passes as the Longhorns kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Texas trailed by a touchdown after the break, then scored three touchdowns without an answer. It was the third straight win for Texas, the second in that run against a ranked team, and a fourth this season against a top-20 team.
Manning Leads Second-Half Comeback
Manning finished 28 of 38 passing for 297 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was his second straight game with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. All three of his touchdown passes covered at least 20 yards.
Brown gave Texas the lead with a 23-yard touchdown catch from Manning with 5:03 left. He also ran for 85 yards and scored the clinching touchdown on an 8-yard run in the final two minutes. Earlier, Manning found Jermaine Bishop Jr. on a 25-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 20-20 late in the third quarter. His first touchdown pass was a 24-yard throw to Derrek Cooper in the first quarter.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter to reach 7-7. Each side then added a field goal for 10-10 at half-time. Missouri moved back in front in the third quarter before Texas tied it again. Texas scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and kept Missouri scoreless.
| Texas | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 7 | 7 |
| Q2 | 3 | 3 |
| Q3 | 10 | 10 |
| Q4 | 14 | 0 |
| Final | 34 | 20 |
| Arch Manning | 28/38, 297 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT | — |
| Raleek Brown | 85 rush yards, 2 TDs | — |
| Austin Simmons | — | 23/43, 252 yards, 2 TDs |
| Jamal Roberts | — | 66 rush yards |
Fumble Review Sparks Texas Rally
Missouri took a 20-13 lead on a 75-yard touchdown pass to Naeshaun Montgomery. Montgomery spun loose from Jelani McDonald and tip-toed down the sideline for the score. On third-and-10 at the Missouri 39, Manning threw a pass about 14 yards downfield. Officials ruled it a fumble, recovered by Texas for a first down. Replays looked like a pass, but referee David Smith upheld the call. It was one of five video reviews in the game, and all five went against Missouri. Three plays later, Manning hit Bishop for the tying touchdown.
After Brown put Texas ahead 27-20, Missouri drove close to midfield. Jamal Roberts was stopped for a short gain, and Austin Simmons then threw incomplete. On third down, a Texas defender batted Simmons’s pass into the air, and cornerback Graceson Littleton intercepted it. Brown scored moments later to make it 34-20.
Playoff Hopes Stay Alive for Texas
The College Football Playoff picks the best teams in college football to play for the national title. Only a small number of teams get in. A third loss would have made it very hard for Texas to get in. That is why this win mattered so much. Wins over ranked teams count more, because they show a team can beat strong sides.
Texas is now 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC, ranked No. 7 in the first College Football Playoff rankings and No. 10 in the AP poll. Missouri is 6-3 and 3-3, ranked No. 18 in the playoff rankings and No. 19 in the AP poll. Texas had lost to unranked Oklahoma and Florida by a field goal each, but had beaten then-No. 1 Ohio State and ranked Tennessee on the road. Missouri has lost two of its last three games, likely ending its playoff chance.
Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons finished 23 of 43 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Jamal Roberts, the SEC’s leading rusher, was held to 66 yards. Ryan Wingo fumbled early for Texas, leading to a Missouri field goal. Missouri kicker Blake Craig missed a short field goal in the second quarter.
Texas played without running back Hollywood Smothers and left tackle Trevor Goosby, both out for the season. Texas was also without wide receiver Cam Coleman, its leader in yards per catch and touchdown catches.
Sarkisian said: “Anybody can play good football when it’s easy. How do you play it when it’s hard?” He also called Texas “big-game hunters” and said “we showed up again today”. Manning said of the review call: “I have to look at the video”. He added: “I’m going to enjoy this one, enjoy the flight home with the guys, but we all know we have a big one next week”. Drinkwitz said: “They made the plays when they needed to in order to win the game”. He added: “Didn’t come down to officials. Didn’t come to reviews.”
What Comes Next for Texas, Missouri
Texas plays at No. 15 LSU next Saturday, while Missouri visits No. 2 Georgia next Saturday. It was the first meeting since the Texas Bowl in 2017, and the first Texas trip to Columbia since 2011, when Missouri won 17-5. A sellout crowd watched at Faurot Field.
Texas had two losses, so a third would have made the playoff race very hard. The win kept Texas in the race.
Manning completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions.
Texas plays at No. 15 LSU next Saturday. Missouri visits No. 2 Georgia next Saturday.
