For the first time this season, the Texas Longhorns just dominated an SEC opponent, and it's exactly what this team needed.
Texas secured a 31-3 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs to secure their first double-digit win over a Power Conference opponent this year.
While it, once again, wasn't a perfect performance by the Horns' offense, the defense had one of its best performances yet, and that's why, when breaking down which players were winners or losers, almost the entire defense fell into the winners' column.
WINNER: Maraad Watson, Texas defensive lineman
In one of the best moments of the entire game, defensive lineman Maraad Watson scooped up a fumble and ran it back a whopping 61 yards for a touchdown.
Simply put, it was magical.
The 333-pound lineman was surrounded by his teammates, who were blocking to clear his path, as he found the end zone, and it was the cherry on top of a dominant first-half performance by Texas.
Watson transferred to Texas after starting his career with the Syracuse Orange. So far this season, he has amassed 16 total tackles (eight solo), including three sacks. This play was undeniably one for this highlight reel.
WINNER: Rasheem Biles, Texas linebacker
Of course, while Watson may have taken the cake for the play of the game, he never would have had the ball if linebacker Rasheem Biles hadn't forced it out of Mississippi State quarterback AJ Swann's hand.
With edge rusher Colin Simmons still sidelined, Biles has undeniably stepped into a leadership role over the last two weeks, and that was put on full display against Mississippi State.
He finished the game with eight tackles, including four tackles for loss and three sacks. While the defense as a whole played extremely well, Biles had one of the best performances of his Texas career.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE: Arch Manning, Texas quarterback
In what is seemingly becoming a ritual, Texas quarterback Arch Manning had a few plays that are deserving of a spot on SportsCenter's Top 10, and he had a few plays that belonged on SportsCenter's Not Top 10.
Manning finished the game with 220 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, but he also had an absolutely avoidable fumble, which Mississippi State recovered.
The entire first half, Manning looked to be in his best form, and even the commentators couldn't stop talking about just how good he looked. That all stopped as soon as he turned the ball over, something he has done time and time again over the Horns' last three games.
Yes, overall, his stats look incredible, but the turnovers continue to be a problem for the Texas offensive leader, and they are holding him back from being a truly elite quarterback.
However, some of the blame for the struggles could be placed on the shaky offensive line or on dropped balls by his teammates. Ultimately, his stats speak for themselves, and they led to a win.
LOSER: Mississippi State quarterback room
In a devastating moment for the Bulldogs, Swann went down after a hard hit, the very play that resulted in the fumble, which Watson recovered for his touchdown.
Swann had to exit the game after the play, with MSU head coach Jeff Lebby confirming at halftime that he would not return to action on Saturday night.
He was the second Mississippi State quarterback to suffer a game-ending injury, with "Super" Kamario Taylor having just undergone foot surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Parker "Billy" Puckett entered the game and struggled mightily against the Horns' ferocious defense. Simply put, Lebby and his quarterback room are running out of options, and it's genuinely unfortunate to see.
WINNER: Will Muschamp, Texas defensive coordinator
When you have this many defensive players as your "winners" after a game, you have to tip your cap to the team's defensive coordinator. For the Horns, that's legendary DC Will Muschamp.
fire us up @CoachWMuschamp 😤🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/oiaXYWX5pI
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) November 1, 2026
The game was filled with great moments for Texas, including the fact that for the first time this season, it shut out an opponent in the first half all season.
In fact, the only time the Bulldogs scored was when they started with the ball on the 28-yard line because of Manning's fumble, and even then, the defense still held them to just a field goal.
The Longhorns forced two turnovers (the fumble and a turnover on downs) and didn't leave Mississippi State with any room to breathe throughout the entirety of the game. It was a masterclass by Muschamp's group, and he deserves a lot of praise for what he's doing with Texas's defense.
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