SportbasketballNCAA Basketball
No. 17 Texas vs. Arkansas final: Horns stomp Hogs in 52-37 win
AUSTIN, Texas — In a display of offensive firepower that felt more like a statement than a simple victory, the No. 17 Texas Longhorns decisively extinguished the Arkansas Razorbacks 52-37 on Saturday, reprising a dormant SEC rivalry with a performance that blended historical significance with modern schematic flair.The Longhorns, hosting the Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for the first time in 34 years, faced a potential trap game, with the looming shadow of a Black Friday showdown against No. 3 Texas A&M.Arkansas, despite an eight-game losing streak and the mid-season termination of head coach Sam Pittman, had proven stubbornly competitive under interim coach Bobby Petrino, losing four of their last five games by a field goal or less. The threat was palpable, especially with Texas junior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.ruled out, but any concerns were systematically dismantled by the arm, legs, and even the hands of quarterback Arch Manning. The game’s narrative was written on the very first drive; after a defensive misstep allowed a 41-yard explosive run, the unit stiffened, forcing a field goal.The response from Manning and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was immediate and surgical. For the fourth consecutive game, Sarkisian opened with a screen to sophomore wideout Ryan Wingo, establishing a rhythm that would become a relentless theme.Manning, displaying a poise that belied his redshirt sophomore status, then executed a perfect fake screen, stepping up in the pocket to deliver a 46-yard strike to a wide-open DeAndre Moore Jr. for the game’s first touchdown.The Longhorns' creativity knew no bounds, culminating in a second-quarter trick play that will be replayed for years—a reverse wide receiver pass, the ‘Philly Special,’ thrown by redshirt freshman Parker Livingstone to a leaping Manning for a touchdown reception, the first by a Texas quarterback since the 2011 Holiday Bowl. This wasn't just play-calling; it was a declaration of strategic depth, a chess move in a game of checkers.While Arkansas’s Mike Washington managed to truck his way to a 22-yard touchdown, briefly narrowing the gap, Texas’s offense operated with machine-like efficiency. Manning’s connection with his receiving corps—Wingo, Moore, Livingstone, and Emmett Mosley—was a masterclass in exploiting a porous secondary.He finished the day with multiple touchdown passes, including a pinpoint, scrambling throw to Moore for a score that extended the lead to 38-23, effectively sealing the game. The defense, though occasionally gashed by the dual-threat capabilities of Arkansas QB Taylen Green and later KJ Jackson, produced the exclamation point in the fourth quarter.Sophomore edge rusher Colin Simmons, a blur off the line, executed a devastating strip-sack, which linebacker Liona Lefau returned 52 yards for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 52-23 and transforming the final minutes into a formality. The late scores conceded by the Texas defense made the final margin appear closer than the contest ever truly was, a minor blemish on an otherwise dominant SEC introduction for the Longhorns.Analytically, this win transcends the scoreboard. It demonstrates Sarkisian’s ability to have his team focused and prepared for a dangerous, if struggling, opponent amidst a high-stakes stretch of the schedule.Manning’s performance, combining textbook pocket passing with improvisational genius, signals his evolution from a heralded name into a legitimate, game-controlling force. The victory not only snaps a 34-year home hiatus in the rivalry but firmly positions Texas as a cohesive, multifaceted threat as they head into their season-defining clash with the Aggies, proving that in the brutal landscape of the SEC, style points and substantive wins are not mutually exclusive.
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#Texas Longhorns
#Arkansas Razorbacks
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#Arch Manning
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