Arch Manning's Fumble Seals Texas' Second Straight Loss
The Texas Longhorns quarterback's late fumble capped a difficult outing as the team fell to Florida, marking their second consecutive defeat.
No. 1 Texas is reeling after suffering its second consecutive loss, falling 27-24 at home to unranked Florida. The defeat follows a disheartening performance against Oklahoma the previous week.
Arch Manning, nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, struggled in the crucial moments. With Texas trailing by three points and under two minutes remaining in the game, Manning was strip-sacked, effectively sealing the Longhorns' fate.
This marked a second consecutive difficult outing for the star quarterback, who was also criticized for his play in the loss to Oklahoma. CBS studio analyst Damien Harris commented on Manning's performance, stating, "Arch Manning isn’t playing like a Manning."
Manning finished the game completing 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. His rushing efforts were less impactful, with zero yards on 10 carries, including failed attempts on crucial third and fourth downs.
Adding to Texas' woes, defensive standout and NCAA sack leader Colin Simmons was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a left leg injury. Both Simmons and Manning have been considered potential top-five picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The team's path to the College Football Playoff now appears significantly more challenging, with four consecutive ranked SEC opponents on the horizon: No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 16 Mississippi State, No. 13 Missouri, and No. 22 LSU.