After an abysmal offensive performance a week ago, ending up on the receiving end of a blowout, the No. 17 Texas Longhorns put a beating on the Arkansas Razorbacks. Not only was it a win that let Texas take
a breath, but it was a much-needed data point for their postseason resume.
Arch Manning can play at an elite level with support
Arch Manning had one of the best quarterback outings in Texas football history.
Even without his record-setting rushing and receiving touchdowns, it would have been a career game for the signal caller as he fully grows into the role. Manning was in control of the offense, connecting with six different receivers on his 389 yards and four passing touchdowns — three of which went to DeAndre Moore, who had a career day of his own. It was probably thanks, in large part, to the offensive line giving him room to operate without having players in his face, but he was still able to operate when he did.
He showed a remarkable ability to work his feet to escape pressure while keeping his eyes downfield, opening up big plays for the offense. The most emblematic of that was his final touchdown pass to Moore, when he rolled out to make a player miss, keeping his eyes downfield to find Moore at the back of the end zone.
The Texas defense can put someone away
For the first half, the Longhorns traded scores with the Razorbacks, going into halftime with a four-point lead thanks to a field goal as time expired. Texas came out of the break and engineered a long touchdown drive, while the defense forced the first of their two turnovers of the second half to set up another long Texas touchdown drive to get Texas a three-score lead.
The second turnover of the half, a scoop-and-score by Liona Lefau off of a Colin Simmons strip sack, put Texas over the 50-point mark for the first time since the Sam Houston State game and the first time scoring more than 35 points in regulation since the start of SEC play.
Texas needs answers at linebacker
Texas got an early preview of the post-Anthony Hill thanks to his hand injury, which looked a bit bumpy early. Arkansas cracked off a 41-yard run on its first play of the game after Trey Moore got caught flowing the wrong direction and Mike Washington punished him for it. While expecting the backup to play at the level of a player with first-round NFL talent, going into Texas A&M with that level of play would have been a problem.
To make matters worse, TyAnthony Smith, who had stepped up and played well late, was flagged for a questionable targeting penalty in the second half, meaning Texas will be without his services when they welcome the Aggies to Austin on Black Friday.
