Arch Manning, Texas passes first SEC test: What Longhorns looked like with Red River looming

With Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers sidelined for the second straight game, redshirt freshman Arch Manning went 26-for-31 through the air in his second career start as the Longhorns defeated Mississippi State 35-13 in their first conference game as an SEC member.

Texas was the five-plus touchdown favorite entering kickoff, but struggled to get going against the Bulldogs, who were on a three-game losing streak. But a 49-yard touchdown pass from Manning to DeAndre Moore Jr. in the final minute of the first half and a 75-yard touchdown drive that Manning completed with his legs late in the third quarter provided some separation for the No. 1 team in the country.

Ewers was listed as questionable all week after suffering a muscle strain in the win over UTSA on Sept. 14 and then was officially ruled out on Saturday. He will receive additional recovery time before the No. 1 Longhorns' next game in two weeks, against Oklahoma in the annual Red River rivalry in Dallas.

What Arch Manning looked like

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has laid out a much different game plan than in Manning's first start, the 51-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe last week.

This game was littered with deep passes — Manning attempted 10 of more than 20 yards, according to TruMedia — but Sarkisian threw plenty more short and intermediate throws this week. As a result, Manning's efficiency improved after he went 15 for 29 in his first start.

The Longhorns actually leaned heavily on Manning early on when the running game struggled to get going. Texas had just 10 rushing yards in the first half.

Manning also took much better care of the ball, avoiding throws into coverage or other danger areas and finishing the day without an interception.

He also showed off his running skills again with a 26-yard run that eventually set up a 1-yard touchdown sneak.

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The Longhorns' sloppy start

Elite teams are not immune to disappointing performances and No. 1 Texas is no exception. The Longhorns had to find a way to overcome fears from Kansas State and Houston last season en route to the College Football Playoff.

To win the SEC, Texas will have to find a way to win its clunkers, and Saturday is certainly a good fit for that. Two turnovers, a turnover on downs, a dropped touchdown pass and minimal offensive possessions in the first half made Texas' SEC opener against Mississippi State a slog.

Complicating matters was an unconventional strategy from Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby, known for his open offense that typically operates at a breakneck pace. Entering Saturday's game, Mississippi State had the third-shortest average time of possession per game in the FBS, according to TruMedia, with only one drive lasting five or more minutes.

But in the first half on Saturday, the Bulldogs had two drives that went past the five-minute mark, including their first drive that lasted seven minutes and eight seconds. This strategy controlled the tempo and kept Texas from running away while minimizing pressure on true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren, who was making his starting debut on the road.

Although the Bulldogs only made two field goals before halftime, they limited Texas to four possessions in the first half, two of which came up empty. A fumble by Jaydon Blue ended one, and a third-down drop by receiver Johntay Cook on a deep pass led to a punt on the other.

Mississippi State owned the ball for 21 minutes and three seconds in the first half and limited Texas to just eight minutes and 57 seconds of possession in the first two quarters.

But Manning erased those misses by leading touchdown drives on Texas' first and last possessions of the first half. Texas' ability to pull away in the second half was the sign of a mature team.

How Texas pulled away

It took a while for the Longhorns' running game to get going, but when it did, Texas took control.

Sarkisian's early game plan was pass-heavy (the Longhorns called on their running backs for just six runs in the first half), but Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue got going in the second half and finished the day with a combined 124 rushing yards.

Although it got off to a rocky start, Texas' win was encouraging in several ways. The Longhorns' success relying on Manning and the passing game showed that that part of the team can carry them when needed, even without Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers.

And Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood made the necessary adjustments to get the second-half running game going that Texas needed to pull away. The offensive line and running backs responded with better execution in the second half to move the chains and keep the ball in their hands rather than letting Mississippi State continue to control the tempo.

The Longhorns defense continues to be great

Although Van Buren and Mississippi State's offense held onto the ball early, Texas stayed strong, pressuring Van Buren and making plays in the backfield. The Longhorns finished the game with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss and held Mississippi State to just 4 yards per play.

Three plays after a Blues fumble early in the second half, Texas defensive lineman Vernon Broughton scored on a strip sack of Van Buren to recover the ball.

Although Mississippi State averaged more than three minutes of possession on its 11 drives, the Bulldogs only gained an average of 23 yards per drive.

The 13 points Texas allowed on Saturday was a season high. In five games, the Longhorns have allowed a total of just 35 points.

(Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images)