Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw two more interceptions and lost a fumble in a tense prime-time game against No. 7 Ole Miss, drawing sharp criticism from ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, before the No. 19 Longhorns pulled out a 34-27 win.
With the score tied 24-24 early in the fourth quarter, Manning took a play-action snap, faced pressure in the pocket, and threw deep into triple coverage toward sophomore tight end Emaree Winston. Ole Miss safety Jalyn Crawford intercepted the pass.
Herbstreit didn’t mince words afterward.
“This one just didn’t make a lot of sense. Just a poor decision there by Arch Manning, putting it up and almost just hoping,” Herbstreit said.
Herbstreit compared the throw to a similar late-game mistake Manning made during the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma, when a fourth-quarter interception set up a game-winning field goal for the Sooners in a loss for the then-top-ranked Longhorns.
The interception against Ole Miss was Texas’ third turnover of the night and Manning’s second interception, after he had also lost a fumble earlier in the game.
Manning came into this season as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner and a projected top pick in next year’s NFL draft, but his play has lagged behind those expectations. The senior has thrown for 1,507 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, including five interceptions over his last four games.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian pushed his quarterback to respond.
“At some point, he’s gotta fight back,” Sarkisian said.
Manning did just that. He finished the game with 212 passing yards, one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns, helping Texas snap a two-game losing streak with the win over Ole Miss.
