No. 7 Texas Longhorns rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat the No. 18 Missouri Tigers 34-20 on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Columbia, Missouri, according to Fox News. The victory keeps the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff hopes alive ahead of a showdown with LSU next week.
The game was marred by controversy. Manning’s arm moved forward when a Missouri defender’s hand got on the ball. The on-field call was upheld after a review by the SEC officiating crew at the replay center. Two plays later, Texas capitalized with a touchdown pass to tie the game at 20-20.
In another strange sequence, a Texas receiver picked up the football after it had been knocked 12 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage. Later, on third-and-10 from the Missouri 39, Manning’s pass fell incomplete. Officials determined the ball’s 14-yard forward advance should be classified as a fumble. Texas recovered it for a first down.
Texas Coaches Through Controversy
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised his team’s ability to overcome adversity. Anybody can play good football when it’s easy. How do you play it when it’s hard?
Sarkisian said. We had some guys go through some hard moments today, and we didn’t give up on them, and they went out and competed some more.
He emphasized the need for mental toughness, stating, We needed to be mentally tough.
Despite the controversial calls, Sarkisian and his team focused on their execution. Like we say all the time, we’re big-game hunters,
Sarkisian said, and we showed up again today.
The Longhorns have now won three consecutive games after losses to Oklahoma and Florida. The win solidifies one of the best resumes in college football for Texas.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, however, pointed to his team’s failure to capitalize on opportunities. They made the plays when they needed to in order to win the game,
Drinkwitz said, and ultimately we did not, and that’s what it came down to.
Didn’t come down to officials.
Didn’t come to reviews.
It came down to the opportunities we had.
I get the same thing you all do.
They review it and say it’s upheld or it’s not.
Arch Manning’s Performance
Arch Manning led the Texas offense, finishing with 297 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 74 percent of his passes. He threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Raleek Brown with just over five minutes remaining. Brown also added 85 yards and a clinching touchdown on the ground. Manning distributed the ball effectively, as six different players recorded multiple catches. Jermaine Bishop and Raleek Brown each caught touchdown passes.
The Longhorns' defense also made several big plays in the fourth quarter. Raleek Brown gained six yards on first down, but a holding penalty was declined. A false start by Michael Masunas changed a 3rd and 5 into a 3rd and 10.
Next Steps for Both Teams
Texas (7-2, 4-2 SEC) will travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 15 LSU next Saturday in a crucial matchup. Missouri (6-3, 3-3 SEC), which has lost two of its last three games, will visit No. 2 Georgia next Saturday. The loss likely ends any chance the Tigers had at a College Football Playoff appearance.
The game was the first meeting between the former Big 12 rivals since the Texas Bowl in 2017.
