Texas lost at home for the first time with Arch Manning at quarterback, as the Longhorns blew a 14-point second-quarter lead and fell to Florida at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Texas looked to be in control early, going up 17-3 after Ryan Niblett returned a punt for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. But Florida, which came in on a two-game losing streak, clawed back and outscored the Longhorns 24-7 over the final two and a half quarters to pull off the win.
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall had been pushing his team toward a tougher mentality since a blowout loss to Missouri two weeks earlier. The Gators showed that resolve on the road despite missing starting quarterback Aaron Philo and top wide receiver Vernell Brown III.
In their place, Tramell Jones made his first collegiate start — in a stadium that has historically been difficult for visiting quarterbacks. Jones completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing with his legs to keep the Texas defense off balance. Running back Jadan Baugh added 91 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
For Texas, the loss raises serious questions about a team that was considered a national championship contender just two weeks ago. Manning again struggled for long stretches, finishing with just over 100 passing yards outside of a 62-yard completion on 4th and 7 late in the game. Florida’s pass defense had ranked poorly for much of the season, and the matchup had been viewed as a chance for Manning to find his footing.
The loss also puts more pressure on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. Another defeat would likely end the Longhorns’ hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff, and missing the postseason for a second straight year would be a significant setback for a program with Texas’s talent and expectations. Sarkisian had already faced questions about his job security heading into the season.
Texas does not get a break in the schedule, either. The Longhorns will host a top-ten Ole Miss team next week as both their coach and quarterback face mounting scrutiny.
