Arch Manning overcomes sloppy performance with clutch TD pass to lift Texas over LSU in crucial matchup

Arch Manning proved Saturday night it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

The Texas Longhorns quarterback led the offense on a 12-play, 58-yard drive and found Raleek Brown for a 4-yard touchdown pass to leave Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a 22-21 victory.

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Texas quarterback Arch Manning celebrates his touchdown carry in the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

It was Manning’s only touchdown pass of the night. He was 19-of-35 with 174 passing yards and three interceptions. He scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter but the Longhorns went into halftime 14-10 and the deficit seemed to be insurmountable.

Manning and LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt traded interceptions in the third quarter. Tigers running back Dillon Jones then sprinted to a 44-yard touchdown on LSU’s next possession. He finished with 125 yards on the ground and the score put the Tigers up 21-10 with 5:52 left in the quarter.

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Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) carries against LSU in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Four punts, including one after a Manning interception, in the fourth quarter ultimately doomed the Tigers. The lack of offense put the Tigers into a bad position. The fourth punt proved to be enormously consequential as Grant Chadwick gave Texas the ball back at its own 42-yard line.

Manning eventually put the Longhorns on his back and drove down the field to give Texas the win.

The Longhorns now move to 8-2 on the season and their College Football Playoff spot is looking better than ever.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin walks on the field before an NCAA college football game against Texas on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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Lane Kiffin’s Tigers fall to 6-4 and are all but officially out of playoff contention after spending all of that money on recruiting to field a team this season.

Trey Wallace is the Sr. College Sports Reporter for OutKick.