Arch Manning threw for a career-best 389 yards and four touchdowns, ran for a score and caught a pass for another as No. 17 Texas dismantled Arkansas 52-37 on Saturday afternoon in a Southeastern Conference dustup in Austin, Texas, to keep alive its waning College Football Playoff chances.
The Longhorns (8-3, 5-2 SEC) dominated the second half after a back-and-forth start. Manning went 18 of 30 for the day with no interceptions while all three of his passes to DeAndre Moore went for touchdowns.
The Razorbacks (2-9, 0-7 SEC) were led by backup signalcaller KJ Jackson, who racked up 206 yards and one touchdown passing along with a late rushing score in relief of the injured Taylen Green. Mike Washington ran for 105 yards and a TD in Arkansas’ ninth straight loss.
Starzyk added a 33-yard FG on the Razorbacks’ ensuing possession.
Texas turned to some trickeration to expand its lead as wideout Parker Livingstone took the ball on a double reverse and passed to an uncovered Manning in the end zone for a 4-yard score with 2:32 to play in the first.
Washington battered his way around left end for a 22-yard touchdown run to bring Arkansas within 14-13 a minute into the second quarter. But the Longhorns kept their collective foot on the pedal with Manning hitting Livingstone on a 54-yard TD pass with 12:26 to play before halftime.
Green scooted around left end for a 4-yard score midway through the second quarter to bring the Razorbacks back to within one. Texas’ Mason Shipley booted a 44-yard field goal on the half’s final play to push the lead to 24-20 at the break.
Manning ran 3 yards for a touchdown on the Longhorns’ first possession of the third quarter to make it 31-20 and connected with Moore on an 8-yard scoring pass with 7:05 to play to create some separation.
Starzyk booted a third field goal, this one from 33 yards away, but Texas quickly discarded any notion it would allow a comeback. Manning scrambled out of the pocket before passing to Moore for a 20-yard TD late in the third.
The Longhorns padded their lead when Liona Lefau scooped up a Jackson fumble after a sack and strip by Colin Simmons and ran 52 yards for Texas’ first defensive TD this season. That made it 52-23 with 11:30 to go.
