No. 22/18 Football rallies for overtime win at Mississippi State, 45-38

Saturday, October 25

Starkville, Miss.

3:15 p.m. CT

University of Texas

6-2 , 3-1

Mississippi State

4-4 , 0-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Texas

Mississippi St.

No. 22/18 Football rallies for overtime win at Mississippi State, 45-38

10.25.2025 | Football

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Texas overcomes 17-point deficit in second-straight overtime win on the road.

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 21/18 Texas Longhorns (6-2, 3-1 SEC) secured their second-straight overtime road win with a 45-38 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-4, 0-4 SEC) Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

Texas utilized a 24-point fourth quarter to overcome a 17-point deficit – the seventh-biggest comeback in program history and the largest since 2007 (a 21-point comeback vs. Oklahoma State).

Senior QB Mathew Caldwell, who entered the game in overtime for an injured Arch Manning, connected with sophomore WR Emmett Mosley V in the corner of the endzone for 10-yard touchdown to put the Horns in front, 45-38. On Mississippi State's final possession, edge rusher Ethan Burke sacked Bulldog QB Blake Shapen, which also resulted in a forced fumble recovered by Texas, to seal the win and move Texas to 3-1 in conference play.

Offensive efforts were led by Quarterback Arch Manning, who set career-highs in completions with 29 (29-for-46) and passing yards with 346 to go along with three passing touchdowns, 29 rushing yards and a rushing score. The New Orleans native accounted for four total touchdowns on the day for Texas. Manning has compiled four games this season with at least one passing and one rushing touchdown.

Sophomore WR Ryan Wingo recorded a career-high 184 receiving yards on five receptions, highlighted by a season-long 62-yard catch. Wingo accounted for 129 yards after catch with three of his receptions going for 47+ yards. Mosley caught his first career touchdown pass in burnt orange and sealed the victory with an overtime touchdown grab. Mosley pulled in four receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore WR Parker Livingstone reeled in four catches for 22 yards and two scores, marking his second career multi-touchdown reception game.

Texas' defense stood tall by having five players notch eight-or-more tackles. Junior DB Jelani McDonald registered a career-high 14 tackles, while linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. recorded a career-best 2.5 sacks.

Special teams were impactful for the Longhorns, as Ryan Niblett recorded a career-best 104 punt return yards and added a clutch, 79-yard punt return touchdown with 1:47 remaining in regulation to tie the game at 38-38 and eventually force overtime.

Texas struck first on a two-play opening drive capped by a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Manning, his sixth of the year. The Bulldogs answered later in the period with a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Shapen evening the score at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Longhorns regained the lead when Manning found Livingstone for a 1-yard touchdown with 12:41 left in the second quarter.

Mississippi State answered with three consecutive scores, including a 1-yard touchdown pass, a 24-yard field goal and a 23-yard touchdown to take a 24-14 lead into halftime.

Early in the fourth quarter, Texas chipped away at the deficit when Manning connected with Livingstone again for a 6-yard touchdown pass to trim Mississippi State's lead to 31-21. The Bulldogs answered with a quick three-play, 75-yard drive capped by a touchdown pass to extend their lead to 38-21 with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter.

Texas put together 10 unanswered points as Manning found Mosley for a 21-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 38-28 with 9:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, before kicker Mason Shipley converted a 26-yard field goal to bring the Longhorns within 38-31 with 3:37 left to play in regulation.

After a crucial defensive stand that forced a three-and-out for the Bulldogs and a punt, Niblett broke free for a 79-yard punt return touchdown, his second of the season, tying the game at 38-38 with just under two minutes remaining.

On Texas' first drive of overtime, Caldwell entered for the shaken-up Manning and connected with Mosley for his second touchdown catch of the day, giving the Longhorns their first lead since the second quarter at 45-38.

On the final play of the game, Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen was sacked for a loss of 32 yards, fumbling on the hit by Burke. The Longhorns recovered the ball at the 33-yard line as time expired, sealing the 35-38 victory for Texas.

Up next, the Longhorns return to Austin to host Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 1 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on either ABC or ESPN.