Texas football vs. Mississippi State: Final score, highlights from ...

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SEC football: Facts to know about the conference

Texas joined the SEC in July 2024. Here are some facts and things to know about the Southeastern Conference.

With Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers out at quarterback for Texas football and touted redshirt freshman Arch Manning getting another start, Texas pulled away in the fourth quarter against heavy underdog Mississippi State in the SEC opener for both squads.

The Longhorns (5-0), ranked No. 2 by the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, had to fight to get the win in their SEC debut, but they will carry a perfect record into the Cotton Bowl against ancient rival Oklahoma in two weeks after a well-deserved open week.

RELATED: Our staff takeaways from Texas' win over Mississippi State

Read the recap below of the Longhorns' win.

More: Texas vs. Mississippi State: Best game day photos from Longhorns' SEC debut

Texas vs Mississippi State score updates

3:03 4Q: Texas 35, Mississippi State 13

It wasn't easy, but Texas pulled away from a tenacious Mississippi State squad in its first SEC game. Arch Manning paced the offense with 324 yards passing on 26-of-31 passing, and he accounted for three total touchdowns. The Texas pass rush also got unleashed with a season-high six sacks, although most came after the Bulldogs fell behind in the second half and had to pass.

3:03 4Q: Texas 35, Mississippi State 13

Isaiah Bond takes a reverse toss around the left side of the Mississippi State defense 27 yarsd to the end zone. That should wrap up the win for Texas in its first SEC game, but the score will be misleading. The Longhorns survive a dogfight that stretched well into the third quarter.

6:12 4Q: Texas 28, Mississippi State 13

Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. gets loose for a 12-yard touchdown run and even gives the horns-down to the fans in the end zone. Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. comes over and offers a gentle reminder of the scoreboard.

9:30 4Q: Texas 28, Mississippi State 6

Arch Manning again. This time, he stands in the pocket and delivers a beautiful 27-yard scoring strike to DeAndre Moore Jr. Texas finally found some room on the ground that drive with Quintrevion Wisner and Jerrick Gibson. After collecting less than 100 yards on the ground through three quarters, the Longhorns are now up to 139 yards rushing on 22 carries.

End 3Q: Texas 21, Mississippi State 6

Arch Manning gets in after all. After a couple of misadventures in the running game, Manning sneaks in from a yard out and Texas finally has some breathing room. Manning has 255 yards passing and a TD and another 33 yards and a score on the ground.

1:32 3Q: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

Arch Manning can do it all, apparently. With the Texas running game stuck in the mud, Manning takes off from the pocket and stretches out for the pylon on a 26-yard run. He wanted the touchdown after the officials rule him out at the 1-yard line, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian called for the replay, but the refs stay with the call.

6:09 3Q: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

Third-and-long, and freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons makes his presence felt for the Texas defense. He beats Mississippi State left tackle Makylan Pounders with one quick step and gets his third sack of the season, a team-high. Let's see if Texas can string together a sustanined drive on offense.

10:10 3Q: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

OK, we're getting weird now. Bert Auburn doinks home a 47-yard field goal, but Texas coach Steve Sarkisian accepts a 5-yard offside penalty on MIssissippi State to make it fourth-and-3. Arch Manning then lobs a low-percentage pass toward Isaiah Bond into double coverage that falls incomplete. All of that comes after a questionable holding call on tight end Gunnar Helm that erased a long catch-and-run by Bond that had Texas set up first-and-goal. Got all that?

13:17 3Q: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

Defensive tackle Vernon Broughton gets the ball right back for Texas. The senior sacks Bulldog QB Michael Van Buren, strips the ball and recovers the fumble. The triple play for Texas, just at the right time for the Longhorns.

14:53 3Q: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

Strange sequence as Jaydon Blue fumbles for the second time this season. Replay overturns the call that Blue was down before the ball was punched out, and Blue made no effort to get back on the ball. But Mississippi State is set up at midfield. Could Blue be yanked for Quintrevion Wisner or freshman Jerrick Gibson, who we haven't seen?

Halftime: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

In the SEC opener for both squads, Mississippi State is giving Texas a taste of Down South. The Bulldogs have run the ball 30 times for 115 yards and have held Texas to 10 yards and seven carries. But the Longhorns have Arch Manning and the Bulldogs don't; the redhsirt freshman has thrown for 202 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-19 passing to help Texas to a hard-fought halftime lead.

:29 2Q: Texas 14, Mississippi State 6

Arch Manning just showed the arm talent that makes him special. As he gets hit the face by a blitzing Stone Blanton, he fires a downfield bomb that hits DeAndre Moore Jr. in stride for a 49-yard touchdown catch. Manning pumps his fist while sitting on the 40-yard line.

1:56 2Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 6

Kyle Ferrie hits another field goal, this one from 32 yards out. This seems like a very big drive for Arch Manning and a Texas offense that hasn't strung together many plays.

2:00 2Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 3

Texas is one of only four schools that have not trailed at any point this season, joining Tennessee, Army and Indiana. But the Longhorns are in a Bulldog fight against Mississippi State, which has held the ball for 15 minutes so far.

7:30 2Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 3

Johntay Cook II drops a sure touchdown pass from Arch Manning that would have gone for a 75-yard score. Is it one of those days, Longhorn fans? Mississippi State gets the ball back, and the Bulldogs have to be confident after amassing 99 yards on 29 plays so far.

9:24 2Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 3

Hey, maybe there is something to this SEC stuff. Mississippi State is winning on both lines of scrimmage; they have 81 rushing yards compared to 2 for Texas. Kyle Ferrie boots home a 45-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs on the board.

End 1Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 0

Credit MIssissippi State for holding off an early Texas onslaught. Jeff Lebby, the Bulldogs' head coach who knows Texas well from his time as the Oklahoma offensive coordinator, has called a nice game. His team has 81 total yards and five first downs and ran 21 plays compared to 11 for the Longhorns.

2:41 1Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 0

Jaydon Blue fumbles the ball and the Bulldogs recover at their own 20-yard line. That's the second lost fumble of the season for Texas, and it gives Mississippi State a lifeline early. The Longhorns were trying to take an early two-TD lead.

6:06 1Q: Texas 7, Mississippi State 0

The Longhorns don't waste much time with a 5-play, 72-yard drive that takes just 1:46 minutes. Arch Manning hits DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 20-yard gain that sets up a 1-yard scoring plunge by Jaydon Blue. That's now five TDs for Blue in the past two games.

7:52 1Q: Texas 0, Mississippi State 0

Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby called a masterful drive that included 13 plays, 47 yards and 7 minutes 8 seconds off the clock. But Texas safety Andrew Mukuba stopped Jordan Ball 2 yards short of a first down on fourth and 7, and Arch Manning is in the game.

S Derek Williams Jr. out for Texas

Sophomore safety Derek Williams Jr. will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring issue, according to Texas officials. Williams rotated in at the safety positions with Michael Taaffe, Andrew Mukuba and Jelani McDonald through the first three weeks and racked up seven tackles and an interception.

Texas is expected to get McDonald back against Mississippi State after he missed last week's game against Louisiana-Monroe.

Quinn Ewers out for Texas

As Quinn Ewers continues to heal from a strained oblique, redshirt freshman Arch Manning will start at quarterback for Texas football when the Longhorns make their Southeastern Conference debut.

Ewers was listed as "out" on the SEC-mandated availability report that was released nearly 90 minutes ahead of Saturday afternoon's game between No. 2 Texas (4-0) against Mississippi State (1-3) at Royal-Memorial Stadium. This game will be UT's first-ever conference contest in the SEC.

More: Best Texas football fan photos as Longhorns take on Mississippi State

Watch Texas football vs Mississippi State live on Fubo (free trial)

What channel is Texas vs Mississippi State game on today?

• TV channel: SEC Network
• Streaming:  Fubo (free trial)
• Radio: 1300 AM, 98.1 FM, 105.3 FM (Spanish)

Texas vs Mississippi State will broadcast nationally on the SEC Network in Week 5 of the 2024 college football season. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

More: Texas believes it has the depth to compete in SEC — and a CFP title. History says it may

Texas v Mississippi State history

• Series record: Tied, 2-2
• Texas last win: Jan. 1, 1999 (38-11)
• Mississippi State last win: Sept. 5, 1992 (28-10)

More: What can Texas expect from Michael Van Buren Jr.? MSU quarterback 'built for that stage'

More: Why Texas football's SEC opener may look a lot like the Big 12 the Longhorns just left

Texas v Mississippi State predictions

Thomas Jones, Texas beat writer

Texas 63, Mississippi State 14

SEC-OPENING YAWNER

It will be an anticlimactic start to the SEC against a banged-up and overmatched Bulldog squad, but things will get more challenging in the coming weeks. Promise.

Cedric Golden, Columnist

Texas 54, Mississippi State 13

BEST VS. WORST?

It won’t matter who is playing quarterback because the Longhorns are on the short list of most complete rosters in college football. Texas makes a statement in its SEC debut. The Horns are the team to beat.

Danny Davis, Texas beat writer

Texas

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER BLOWOUT

Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to fast-forward two weeks to when things actually get interesting on the Texas schedule. So, while everyone in Austin waits for Oklahoma and Georgia, expect another blowout before Texas gets to enjoy a bye week..

David Eckert, Texas insider

Texas 50, Mississippi State 10

BUILLDOGS LACK BITE

A Mississippi State squad that got demolished by Toledo and has since lost its starting quarterback for the season will not be the first team to challenge Texas —  whether Quinn Ewers can go or not.

Texas vs Mississippi State betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: Texas by 38.5
• Over/under: 62.5
• Moneyline: n/a

Texas vs Mississippi State injury updates

Texas: RB CJ Baxter (out), RB Christian Clark (out), RB Velton Gardner (out), DB Derek Williams Jr. (out), RB Colin Page (out), LS Tate Haver (doubtful), WR DeAndre Moore Jr. (questionable), QB Quinn Ewers (questionable), DB Jelani McDonald (probable), RB Quintrevion Wisner (probable), Edge Barryn Sorrell (probable).

Mississippi State: QB Blake Shapen (out), WR Creed Whittemore (out), S Tyler Woodard (out), WR Trent Hudson (out), RB Keyvone Lee (out), DL Kalvin Dinkins (out), CB DeAgo Brumfield (out), CB Traveon Wright (out), DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones (out), S Chris Keys Jr (out), S Isaac Smith (questionable).

Texas vs Mississippi State weather update

According to the National Weather Service, Austin will be warm, sunny and with a slight northern breeze to tamp down the humidity. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s at kickoff.

Texas football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: Texas 52, Colorado State 0
• Sept. 7: Texas 31, Michigan 12
• Sept. 14: Texas 56, UTSA 7
• Sept. 21: Texas 51, Louisiana Monroe 3
• Sept. 28: Texas vs. Mississippi State*
• Oct. 5: BYE
• Oct. 12: Texas vs. No. 16 Oklahoma | 2:30 p.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
• Oct. 19: Texas vs. No. 1 Georgia*
• Oct. 26: Texas at Vanderbilt*
• Nov. 2: BYE
• Nov. 9: Texas vs. Florida | 11 a.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
• Nov. 16: Texas at Arkansas | 11 a.m. | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
• Nov. 23: Texas vs. Kentucky*
• Nov. 30: Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M*

Mississippi State football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: Mississippi State 56, Eastern Kentucky 7
• Sept. 7: Arizona State 30, Mississippi State 23
• Sept. 14: Toledo 41, Mississippi State 17
• Sept. 21: Florida 45, Mississippi State 28
• Sept. 28: at Texas
• Oct. 12: at Georgia
• Oct. 19: vs. Texas A&M
• Oct. 26: vs. Arkansas
• Nov. 2: vs. UMass
• Nov. 9: at Tennessee
• Nov. 23: vs. Missouri
• Nov. 29: at Ole Miss

Texas football news

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