The Texas Longhorns defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 16-13 in overtime Saturday, overcoming offensive struggles in the Arch Manning Kentucky game despite the quarterback’s difficult performance and subsequent social media criticism.
Offensive Performance in Arch Manning Kentucky Game
The Texas Longhorns offense struggles were evident throughout the contest. The team managed only 179 yards of total offense and eight first downs across 12 drives.
Quarterback Arch Manning’s final stat line reflected the difficult night. The Arch Manning stats vs Kentucky included completing 12-of-27 passes for 132 yards and rushing 11 times for minus-1 yard.
Manning and Sarkisian React to Win
Manning acknowledged the offense’s poor showing after the game. “Ultimately, I got to play better. We’ve got to start faster.
Obviously, it was a rough night for the offense,” he said.
He credited the team’s defense for securing the victory. “The defense had our back all night,” Manning added.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s postgame comments highlighted the difficulty of winning on the road. “What a win,” Sarkisian stated.
“I’ve said this all along. You go on the road at night in the SEC this league is tough,” he continued. “It’s hard, and for us to find a way to win this game tonight.“
Game Decided in Overtime
The Texas vs Kentucky final score was settled in overtime. Mason Shipley secured the 16-13 victory with a game-winning field goal.
The win improved the Texas Longhorns’ record to 5-2 on the season. This came just one week after Manning led the team to a significant victory over No. 6 Oklahoma.
Longhorns Look Ahead in SEC Play
With the victory, Texas is now 2-1 against SEC opponents and sits fifth in the conference standings. The Longhorns’ next challenge is a road trip to face Mississippi State next weekend.
