AUSTIN, Texas — After a 42-day hiatus, the No. 20 Texas Longhorns made a triumphant return to the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to host the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores. With Halloween around the corner, the Longhorns aimed to shake off any lingering effects from last month’s loss to the Gators in Gainesville. With a record of 6-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, the team still has ambitious goals this season, including competing for the SEC Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian is well aware of the urgency as his team seeks a victory against the rising Commodores, who are led by fifth-year head coach Clark Lea. The Longhorns received a significant boost with the return of redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning, who was cleared from concussion protocol just before the game. The only absence for Texas was redshirt senior safety Michael Taaffe, but the return of senior center Cole Hutson, who had not played since the win over Oklahoma, was a welcome sight. Hutson was slated to start at left guard, while redshirt junior Connor Robertson maintained his position at center, hoping to stabilize a line that has faced challenges this season.
The game kicked off with Vanderbilt winning the toss and deferring to the second half. The Longhorns started strong, mirroring their opening play from the previous week with a swing pass to sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wingo, who took it 75 yards to the end zone, putting Texas up 7-0. Vanderbilt responded with a screen pass followed by a couple of short runs, managing to secure a first down despite a few setbacks.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian dialed up an innovative reverse throwback screen to redshirt sophomore Ryan Niblett, gaining 13 yards. However, Manning's early momentum was challenged by a couple of penalties and a series of incomplete passes that pushed Texas back. Nevertheless, redshirt senior kicker Mason Shipley connected on a 39-yard field goal, extending the Longhorns' lead.
Vanderbilt struggled to find their rhythm as Texas's defense pressured quarterback Diego Pavia, resulting in their first punt of the game. Following a 12-yard return by Niblett, Texas continued to focus on their passing game, with Wingo and junior wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. contributing significant yardage. The Longhorns' first called run of the game saw junior running back Quintrevion Wisner break tackles, showcasing his strength and agility.
On a drive highlighted by quick completions from Manning, redshirt sophomore running back CJ Baxter caught a six-yard touchdown pass, marking his first touchdown in 670 days and giving Texas a commanding 17-0 lead.
The second quarter began with an injury concern as junior safety Jelani McDonald headed to the locker room. The Texas defense held firm despite a few setbacks, allowing a 44-yard field goal to Vanderbilt. After a short kickoff return by freshman tight end Nick Townsend, the Longhorns responded with a series of plays, including a well-executed screen to Wisner that gained 17 yards.
Wisner’s impressive performance continued as he showcased his patience and vision, setting up manageable third downs. After a 14-yard gain by freshman wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon, who unfortunately left the game due to injury, Wisner found a gap on a toss sweep and somersaulted into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown, extending the Longhorns' lead to 24-3 midway through the second quarter.
As the game progressed, the Longhorns demonstrated both offensive prowess and defensive resilience, setting the stage for an exciting finish as they aimed to keep their championship hopes alive.
