Arch Manning helped complete a season-saving Texas comeback, but was left in the medical tent during the game’s final moments.
Manning, 21, suffered an injury after slamming his head against the turf in overtime during the Longhorns’ thrilling 45-38 overtime road win over Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. on Saturday, leaving him on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.
During the first play of overtime, Manning was hit by two Mississippi defenders while attempting to dive on the ground after rushing for a first down.
Manning remained on the ground until team personnel came to check on him before being helped off the field and taken into the medical tent.
The nature of Manning’s injury remains unclear.
Senior Matthew Caldwell relieved Manning at quarterback and wound up throwing a touchdown in overtime, which ultimately sealed the win for Texas.
The Longhorns were down by three possessions early in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game before proceeding to score 17 unanswered points to send the game to overtime.
Manning threw his third touchdown pass of the day which put the Longhorns within two possessions before Texas kicked a field goal which cut the Bulldogs’ lead to seven.
With just over two minutes left in the fourth, Texas returner Ryan Niblett went the distance, retuning a punt from the Longhorns’ 21-yard line for the game-tying touchdown.
Before exiting the game, Manning had one of his best performances since taking over as starting quarterback for the Longhorns, throwing for 346 passing yards with three passing touchdowns, a rushing TD, and an interception while completing 29-of-46 passes.
Ryan Wingo led Texas receivers with five receptions for 184 yards.
Saturday’s win gave the No. 22-ranked Longhorns their sixth win in a season full of ups and downs after being ranked No. 1 in the preseason.
Following the Longhorns’ gritty overtime win over Kentucky on Oct. 18, head coach Steve Sarkisian said he needed to do “a better job” with helping Manning and unlocking his team’s offense.
“I’ve got to do a better job,” Sarkisian told reporters then. “I look in the mirror first.”
