For what may be the first time in history, a fourth quarterback from the same family has led his team to a win over Mississippi State.
Texas’ Arch Manning joined uncles Peyton (Tennessee) and Eli (Ole Miss) and grandfather Archie (Ole Miss) on Saturday as the latest Manning to line up behind center and beat the Bulldogs. The youngest Manning’s performance in Saturday’s 35-13 win – which included 324 passing yards and 2 touchdowns – brings the family’s record against Mississippi State to 4-3-1.
On top of the best passing games of his novel career, making his first start last week against Louisiana-Monroe following an injury to Quinn Ewers, Arch continued to show the duality inherited from his NFL Hall of Famer grandfather. He added 35 yards and a touchdown on the ground while staying clean in the turnover category throughout the contest.
The Bulldogs, who were nearly 40-point underdogs entering the game, gave the Longhorns more of a fight than most expected. It was a two-score ballgame until the final three minutes when Texas running back Isaiah Bond put the game on ice with a 26-yard scamper into the endzone for the contest’s final score.
Jeff Lebby’s true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren, Jr., who drew the start in lieu of the injured Blake Shapen, showed spunk in his first taste of SEC action. Van Buren finished the day completing 12 of 23 passes for 144 yards and a rushing touchdown.
MVB strolls in for his first career TD!#SHOWTIME | #HailState pic.twitter.com/t6U9g2OyCc
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 28, 2024
Lebby’s run game also continued its momentum after a 200-plus yard outing against Florida in last week’s loss, totaling 201 yards via 50 rushing attempts. Success on the ground helped the maroon and white slow the pace and stay within striking distance for the bulk of the afternoon.
In the end, the top-ranked Longhorns were simply too much. It gets no easier for Mississippi State, with a week off followed by a road showdown with the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.
