Ole Miss vs Texas 2026: Final Score and Game Recap
Revisit the October 24, 2026 Ole Miss–Texas football game, its official final score, team stats and pivotal moments.
Ole Miss vs Texas 2026: Final Score and Game Recap
Texas defeated Ole Miss 34-27 in Austin on October 24, 2026, but the final score barely captures the swing in momentum. The Longhorns led by 21 points at halftime before the Rebels reached a 24-24 tie early in the fourth quarter. Arch Manning's late rushing touchdown restored the Texas lead, and a final Ole Miss drive ended with an interception in the end zone. This recap focuses on that verified 2026 football game, not a future rematch.
At a glance
| Date | October 24, 2026 |
| Final | Texas 34, Ole Miss 27 |
| Venue | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin |
| Halftime | Texas 24, Ole Miss 3 |
| Third quarter | Ole Miss closed to 24-17 |
| Result | Final |
How Texas built its 24-3 halftime lead
The Longhorns began with a Gianni Spetic field goal and expanded their lead on an Arch Manning touchdown run. Ryan Wingo then caught a 50-yard scoring pass from Manning, and Michael Terry III added a two-yard rushing score. Texas took a 24-3 lead into the locker room, while Ole Miss had managed only a Lucas Carneiro field goal in the first two quarters.
Texas's defensive effort played a large role in that gap: the school reported limiting the Rebels to 138 first-half yards. An early lead can look decisive, but the game later demonstrated why a halftime score should never be described as the final result.
The Rebels' comeback to a fourth-quarter tie
Ole Miss changed the tone after the break. Kam Franklin recovered a fumble for a touchdown, and Trinidad Chambliss found Horatio Fields for a six-yard score. The Rebels got within seven at 24-17 by the end of the third quarter, putting pressure back on the Texas offense.
Early in the fourth quarter, Chambliss connected with Fields again on a 27-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 24-24. The comeback required both offensive production and takeaways; the Rebels finished with three forced turnovers, including two interceptions by Jalyn Crawford. Those details explain the rally better than describing the game as simply 'close.'
The decisive final stretch
Manning scored on a one-yard keeper to return Texas to the lead. After another Ole Miss opportunity, Texas added a field goal by Spetic, making the margin ten points. Carneiro's late field goal cut the deficit to 34-27, and Ole Miss recovered an onside kick to create one final chance.
The Rebels moved into scoring range with the clock almost gone, but the final throw was intercepted in the end zone. Texas held on, 34-27. The game's end is a useful illustration of how a successful onside recovery can prolong the contest without changing the eventual winner.
Player and team numbers that explain the game
The official Texas game center lists 419 total yards for Texas and 363 for Ole Miss. Texas rushed for 207 yards to the Rebels' 113, a notable difference given that the passing totals were 212 for Texas and 250 for Ole Miss. Both teams recorded 23 first downs, so the victory was not simply a matter of one team having all the possession opportunities.
Manning threw for 212 yards, while Raleek Brown led Texas on the ground with 157. Chambliss passed for 250 yards for Ole Miss, with Deuce Alexander leading the Rebels' receivers at 87 yards. Those are box-score figures, not projections or estimates.
What the loss revealed about Ole Miss’s resilience
Ole Miss's comeback showed that the Rebels could regroup after a difficult first half. The defense generated takeaways, the passing game got Horatio Fields involved twice in the end zone and the special teams unit recovered an onside kick to create a final possession. Those facts explain why Texas had to win the game twice: first by building a lead, then by protecting it after the rally.
The defeat also illustrates the cost of falling 21 points behind a strong opponent. The Rebels scored 24 points after halftime and still lost by seven. For comparison, their previous SEC victory over Missouri was controlled throughout, making the Texas game an example of a late comeback that fell short rather than a wire-to-wire performance.
Why the yardage statistics do not tell the whole story
The final offensive totals were reasonably close, and both teams had 23 first downs, but the distribution of points was radically different by half. Texas scored 24 points before halftime and then needed to respond after Ole Miss scored 21 unanswered points to make it 24-24. The Longhorns' 207 rushing yards helped sustain a different kind of offense from the Rebels' passing-led rally.
The decisive sequence also shows that turnovers should be interpreted alongside timing. Ole Miss created multiple second-half opportunities and even recovered an onside kick late, but an interception at the end of the final drive stopped the comeback. A box score captures the yardage; the scoring timeline explains why that yardage produced a seven-point Texas victory.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Ole Miss vs Texas in 2026?
Texas won 34-27 on October 24, 2026, in Austin.
Did Ole Miss come back against Texas?
Ole Miss erased a 24-3 halftime deficit to tie the game 24-24 in the fourth quarter, but Texas regained the lead.
How many yards did Arch Manning throw for?
The official game center records 212 passing yards for Arch Manning.