It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Texas Longhorns penciled for a blowout over Mississippi State? Nah—the Bulldogs owned 58 of 60 minutes, then Texas forced OT with a punt-return killshot with 1:47 left in regular game.
Key: Enter fifth-year senior #51 Marshall Landwehr (Dallas, TX): bone-crusher block on a charging defender, springing Ryan Niblett for a 79-yard house call. No block, no tie. Texas claws back—barely.
In a “should’ve been easy” upset, forget the usual 5-7 MVPs; 18 Horns were on fire and their actions directly contributed to a team success. Full-team come-from-behind victory.
Offensive Comeback Heroes Halftime measly (Manning: 99 pass yds)? Poof—second-half juggernaut: Arch Manning erupts for 257 yards, 3 TDs, plus a 3-yard scramble score. Career-high 346 total. Gunslinger unlocked.
Matthew Caldwell? Clutch deity. Manning hurt on OT’s first snap—Caldwell slides in, lasers a 10-yard game-winner to Emmett Mosley Jr., toe dragging inbounds. (Florida flashbacks: Helmet-yank sub, same ice.)
Unreal: Ryan Wingo incinerates—5 catches, 184 yards (4 conversions). CJ Baxter, injury-return beast, powers 9 carries for 27 yards. Manning’s radar, #13 Parker Livingstone: 4 grabs, 22 yards, 2 TDs (1-yard Q2 special, 6-yard Q4 dagger). Emmett Mosley V. mirrors: 4/53, 2 scores (21-yard Manning bomb, OT clincher). Toe-drag dynasty.
Aussie ace #19 Jack Bouwmeester (Bendigo) thunders 8 punts for 358 yards. Field flipped.
Defensive Devourers
My God, they feasted. Jelani McDonald: Tackle apocalypse—14 total (5 solo). Anthony Hill Jr.: 10 stops (6 solo), 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs. Line lunch.
Ethan Burke, young legend: Q1 FG swat (fate whispered), 7 tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 2 TFLs, forced fumble… OT sack? Lights out. Destiny.
Legacy fire #97 Alex January (Duncanville; Mike’s son, ’83-’96 LB): 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks (-16 yards), fumble scoop. Bloodlines devour.
Texas battles past zero—into myth. Calling card: unbreakable. Competition breeds monsters; Horns? Apex. Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, A&M—souls on the menu.
Hook ’em. Dark-horse MVP? Share with us who you think is.
