Overview
- Texas improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in SEC play with a 34-31 home win that restores realistic SEC and College Football Playoff paths.
- Arch Manning, back from a concussion, delivered his best outing of the season by going 25-of-33 for 328 yards and three touchdowns.
- A reworked offensive line moved Cole Hutson to left guard and inserted Connor Robertson at center, resulting in zero sacks allowed and only one tackle for loss.
- Texas’ defense throttled Vanderbilt’s ground game to 2.4 yards per carry and produced 10 tackles for loss and six sacks against a unit that had rarely been pressured.
- Vanderbilt’s late surge and near-successful onside kick tightened the finish, with Texas now entering a bye ahead of trips against Georgia, then closing vs. Arkansas and Texas A&M as the CFP committee unveils its first rankings on Tuesday.