Oct 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive again Michael Taaffe (16) celebrates after the sport in opposition to the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Discipline. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photos No. 22 Texas will look to place all of the items collectively in opposition to swooning Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon in a Southeastern Convention sport in Starkville, Miss.
The Longhorns have accomplished sufficient to win over the previous two video games however should be higher in the event that they wish to keep within the SEC race. Conversely, the Bulldogs look to interrupt into the win column in league play after shedding three straight this season and 15 consecutive SEC contests since October 2023.
Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC) is bidding to seek out offensive consistency and construct momentum for the stretch run. The Longhorns have not performed at dwelling since beating Sam Houston on Sept. 20, and their remaining 5 video games will see them face three groups at present ranked within the prime 10.
Texas dropped one spot within the ballot after outlasting Kentucky 16-13 in time beyond regulation on the highway final week. The Longhorns’ protection — which all however gained the sport with a goal-line stand within the Wildcats’ possession within the further interval — and particular groups can be referred to as on once more in opposition to Mississippi State.
The Texas offense, nonetheless, continues to wrestle.
Arch Manning handed for under 132 yards within the victory at Kentucky and the Longhorns gained regardless of being outgained 395-179. Texas ranks eleventh within the SEC in yards per sport (368.1) and factors per sport (26.7).
“On the finish of the day offensively, I’ve bought to do a greater job,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned. “I’ve bought to do a greater job of placing all of our gamers in place to achieve success — that is blocking folks, that is throwing the ball to open folks, that is working routes exactly the place they must be.
“It isn’t about what I do know or what seems good on the whiteboard if you draw it up, it is what are our guys going to execute very well predicated on the protection that we’re taking part in and the place our strengths are.”
Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3) heads dwelling after a 23-21 loss at Florida final week. The Bulldogs had been driving late for a possible game-winning subject objective earlier than Blake Shapen tossed an interception.
Shapen accomplished 24 of 36 passes for 324 yards and Davon Sales space rushed for 105 yards with two touchdowns within the loss. Brenen Thompson had seven receptions for 155 yards and Anthony Evans III had a game-high 11 catches for 107 yards.
Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby acknowledges that his crew’s SEC shedding streak is weighing on the gamers.
“We have to discover a technique to go win the sport — that is a really actual factor,” he mentioned Monday. “This crew is that this crew, and it is bought nothing to do with any years up to now, nothing like that. Discovering methods to get higher each week, that is what good soccer groups do. I do suppose that we have gotten higher from Week 1 to proper now. Man, all is gonna get proper with the world if we’ll discover a technique to go win one.”
–Discipline Stage Media
