**Arch Manning Shines in Texas Longhorns' 35-13 Victory Over Mississippi State**

In their inaugural game in the SEC, the Texas Longhorns managed a 35-13 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, though the score belied the competitive nature of the matchup. The offense had moments of sloppiness, marred by fumbles and penalties. Despite these issues, quarterback Arch Manning delivered an impressive performance in his second career start, showing marked improvement from the previous week against UL Monroe.

Arch Manning seemed to find his rhythm, completing 26 of 32 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns, while avoiding interceptions. He also contributed 33 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, underscoring his dual-threat capability. A notable miss was a dropped pass by Johntay Cook II, which would have added a 62-yard touchdown to Manning's stats. "I think last week I didn't have as much fun as I wanted to. I think I had a little bit more fun today even though it was a little rocky," Manning remarked, reflecting on his performance.

Running back Jaydon Blue had a challenging game, fumbling twice on just six carries. His first fumble occurred on Texas' second drive, halting their momentum. After another fumble on the first play of the second half, Blue did not see the field again. Sophomore Quintrevion Wisner stepped up in Blue’s absence, rushing for 88 yards on 13 carries, which proved crucial in Texas' victory.

The wide receivers performed admirably, despite Johntay Cook II's significant drop. Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, and Gunnar Helm each recorded five catches. DeAndre Moore Jr. was a standout, amassing 103 yards on four catches, including two lengthy touchdowns. Bond also contributed with a touchdown on an end around.

The offensive line grappled with inconsistency, particularly in run blocking, and penalties were a significant issue, totaling eight for 65 yards. These infractions often stalled the offense, something head coach Steve Sarkisian will undoubtedly look to address.

Defensively, Texas faced challenges stopping Mississippi State’s run game, as evidenced by the Bulldogs' 34:57 time of possession. Despite allowing 150 rushing yards on 50 carries, the defense held firm when needed, limiting Mississippi State to just one rushing touchdown. The Texas secondary also performed well, limiting the Bulldogs to 144 passing yards and contributing significantly to run support, with Jaylon Guilbeau and Jahdae Barron among the leading tacklers.

Overall, while the Texas Longhorns' performance lacked polish, it was sufficient to secure a victory in their SEC debut, setting the stage for further development as they prepare for the upcoming challenge against Oklahoma.