Texas Finishes Strong in Columbia

No. 7 Texas beat No. 18 Missouri 34-20 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, scoring the game's last two touchdowns after the teams entered the fourth quarter tied. The difference was third down and the passing game: Texas kept drives alive, and Missouri's offense stalled.

The Tigers converted just 3 of 16 third downs, while the Longhorns went 6 of 13. Texas also averaged nearly 8 yards per pass to Missouri's 6, and that efficiency gap showed up when it mattered most.

How It Happened

Missouri struck first at 8:40 of the first quarter when Austin Simmons found Brett Norfleet for a 2-yard touchdown. Texas answered at 6:10, with Arch Manning hitting Derrek Cooper for a 24-yard score. Blake Craig put the Tigers back in front with a 22-yard field goal late in the quarter.

The second quarter produced one score. Gianni Spetic hit a 27-yard field goal with 1:57 left, and the teams went to halftime level.

The third quarter was a trade. Craig opened the scoring with a 48-yard field goal at 11:51, and Spetic matched him with a 34-yarder at 5:41. Less than a minute later, Simmons hit Naeshaun Montgomery for a 72-yard touchdown. Texas responded late in the quarter when Manning connected with Jermaine Bishop Jr. from 25 yards, tying the game heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter belonged to Raleek Brown. He caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Manning at 5:03 for the go-ahead score, then sealed it with an 8-yard run at 1:25. Missouri did not score after the third quarter.

Texas won despite losing 2 fumbles to Missouri's 1. The Longhorns held the ball for 32:26, and their ability to move the chains on third down made up for the giveaways.

Key Performers

Arch Manning, Texas: TD passes of 24 YDS (Derrek Cooper), 25 YDS (Jermaine Bishop Jr.) and 23 YDS (Raleek Brown)
Raleek Brown, Texas: 23-YD TD reception, 8-YD TD run
Austin Simmons, Missouri: TD passes of 2 YDS (Brett Norfleet) and 72 YDS (Naeshaun Montgomery)
Gianni Spetic, Texas: FGs of 27 and 34 YDS, 4 PAT
Blake Craig, Missouri: FGs of 22 and 48 YDS, 2 PAT

Texas Passing: 28-38, 297 YDS, 7.8 per pass
Missouri Passing: 23-44, 252 YDS, 5.7 per pass
Texas Rushing: 31 ATT, 104 YDS, 3.4 per carry
Missouri Rushing: 24 ATT, 84 YDS, 3.5 per carry
Total Yards: Texas 401, Missouri 336
Third Down: Texas 6-13, Missouri 3-16

Neither team ran the ball well, and Missouri was actually slightly better per carry. The game was decided through the air, where Texas completed passes at a far higher rate and made them count late.

What It Means

This was a ranked-versus-ranked road test, and Texas passed it. The Longhorns move to 7-2 and are now 2-0 on the road, a road win over a ranked opponent that should carry weight with voters.

Missouri falls to 6-3 and 4-1 at home. The Tigers had chances, taking the lead repeatedly through three quarters, but an offense that completed barely half its passes and rarely converted on third down could not close.

For Missouri, the lesson is plain: big plays like the Montgomery touchdown kept them in it, but they could not sustain drives when Texas tightened up in the fourth quarter.