Manning Leads Four-Touchdown Surge
Arch Manning delivered a commanding performance in his first regular-season start, throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns while intercepting once. The quarterback completed 20 of 27 passes to lead the No. 5 Texas Longhorns to a 59-7 victory over the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
The home team dominated the scoreboard at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, where 102,738 fans watched Texas establish a commanding lead early and never relinquish control.
Early Lead Becomes a Blowout
The Longhorns struck first in the opening quarter, with Manning finding Cam Coleman for a six-yard touchdown pass. Ryan Wingo extended the lead with an eight-yard reception, giving Texas a 14-0 cushion before the half. In the second quarter, Raleek Brown rushed for 13 yards to score, followed by Graceson Littleton returning a fumble 59 yards for a touchdown.
Texas State managed their only score of the game in that period when Davian Jackson ran in from four yards out, leaving the teams at 28-7 at halftime.
Third-Quarter Dominance
Texas continued its offensive rhythm in the third quarter, adding three more touchdowns. Manning connected with Coleman again for a 20-yard score, then found Hollywood Smothers for a 13-yard touchdown. Brown added another rushing score on a 21-yard run, pushing the lead to 49-7. The Bobcats' offense stalled completely in the final two periods, managing only a single field goal.
Final Score and Stats
In the fourth quarter, kicker Gianni Spetic made a 48-yard field goal to trim the deficit slightly, but James Simon capped the scoring with a seven-yard rushing touchdown. Manning finished with a 4th-quarter touchdown pass to secure the 59-7 final. Wingo led the receiving corps with 121 yards and a touchdown on seven catches, while Smothers rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries.
For Texas State, Brad Jackson completed 15 of 23 passes for 150 yards and one interception, while Jaylen Jenkins carried for 34 yards. The win improves the Longhorns to 1-0, while the Bobcats fall to 0-1.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401856667
