No. 1 Texas staves off miraculous comeback bid from No. 14 Tennessee

· Yahoo Sports

No. 1 Texas held on to beat No. 14 Tennessee 20-17 Saturday in a vivacious Neyland Stadium that included U.S. president Donald Trump.

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Arch Manning, who hit on only half of his pass attempts last week in a win over UTSA, couldn’t miss early this time around.

He completed his first seven passes for 120 yards against Tennessee, the alma mater of his uncle, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

Arch Manning, a Heisman Trophy hopeful and an intriguing NFL Draft prospect, attacked Jim Knowles’ Volunteers defense from the get-go.

Albeit underthrown, his deep ball for wide receiver Emmett Mosley V amounted to a 43-yard pickup on the game-opening drive, which running back Raleek Brown capped with a 9-yard rushing touchdown.

On Texas’ third series, Manning found wideout Ryan Wingo twice, first over the middle for 15 yards and then on a dump-off that saw the elusive Wingo author a 14-yard gain. Two plays after that, Manning uncorked one of the prettier throws of his Longhorns career, a perfectly placed 29-yard strike to wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. that soared outside the reach of over-pursuing Tennessee defensive back Qua Moss.

Although Steve Sarkisian’s team couldn’t tack on another touchdown in the red zone, Texas did come away with a field goal to go up 10-3.

The score remained that way the rest of the first half.

Penalties and ball-security issues cost the Longhorns, whereas Josh Heupel’s Volunteers were stifled by Texas’ unrelenting pressure.

Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon took a bevy of hits; however, the one that knocked him out of the game for a series and change wasn’t sustained on a pass play.

On a quarterback power early in the second quarter, Faizon — a dual-threat QB who was the Rivals industry ranking’s No. 10 overall prospect in the 2026 class — veered right.

In no time, though, he was swarmed by Texas linebackers Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer. There was no gain on the play, but what the Vols lost, at least momentarily, was their signal-caller.

In Brandon’s absence, Manning tossed an interception and nearly committed one more turnover. The pick stemmed from Manning taking a chance on a play-action fake that didn’t really get the safety to bite. He rolled the dice anyway, firing downfield into double coverage. Cornerback Kayin Lee tracked the pass and pried it away from wide receiver Cam Coleman at the doorstep of the end zone.

Soon after the lone full series Tennessee backup George MacIntyre quarterbacked, a high snap flew through the hands of Manning. Somehow, he recovered the fumble, except the 12-yard loss setback what turned out to be a three-and-out.

On a day when Texas was flagged XX times, it’s most notable and arguably most consequential penalty arrived late in the first half.

Once Simmons finished off a 16-yard sack that would have dropped Tennessee to a fourth-and-29 on its own 12-yard line, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty “for simulating using the restroom.”

While Simmons pretending to urinate on Shields–Watkins Field didn’t lead to Tennessee points, it did cost Texas great field position before intermission.

Simmons redeemed himself with his sack-filed performance, during which he tracked down Brandon for three second-half sacks.

Tennessee special teams deserve the credit for a 10-10 tie in the third quarter. Vols punter Jackson Ross pinned Texas at its 6-yard line in the infancy of the third quarter. Four snaps later, Moss returned a Longhorns punt 57 yards to the house to knot things up.

Texas had a response, and it came from Manning and one of his most heralded receivers, Coleman, who lay out to make a highlight-reel 30-yard grab. Manning lofted the pass while weathering a hit that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty.

That sequence put the Longhorns in position for a 44-yard field goal that made it a 13-10 game.

Texas briefly seized command of the game midway through the fourth quarter. A third-and-8 hookup between Manning and Wingo slingshotted the Longhorns. Those two connected again before Texas turned to the ground game.

Just like he did in the opening frame, Brown found pay dirt.

Tennessee turned the ball over on downs its next drive, then used all three of its timeouts to set the stage for a last-ditch effort.

After struggling offensively all afternoon, Brandon orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. A 16-yard run from Brandon on third-and-12 was critical. It was the catalyst for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Matthews.

The Vols’ prayers continued to be answered when Ross’ dropkick onside kick ricocheted off Wingo and was recovered by linebacker Arion Carter.

Just like that, Tennessee had a bit more than a minute to tie or take the lead. But a sloppy final drive concluded with a heave to the end zone that Texas’ Jelani McDonald broke up to seal the road win and prevent a Vols miracle.

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