AUSTIN, Texas — No. 1 Texas got its first SEC win behind the arm of Arch Manning, who helped the Longhorns overcome a slow start and some self-inflicted setbacks to beat Mississippi State 35-13 on Saturday.

Manning was 26-of-31 for 324 yards and two touchdowns, and added 33 rushing yards and another score, despite Johntay Cook II dropping a wide-open touchdown pass that would’ve added another 62 passing yards in the second quarter. A week after throwing two interceptions in his first start against UL Monroe, Manning said he felt more relaxed.

“I think last week I didn’t have as much fun as I wanted to,” Manning said. “I think I had a little bit more fun today even though it was a little rocky.”

It was rocky because running back Jaydon Blue lost two fumbles — one in the red zone — Cook dropped a touchdown and there were eight penalties on the Texas offense. Coach Steve Sarkisian criticized himself for having his team kick a field goal but then going for it on fourth down after a defensive penalty gave the Longhorns another chance. Texas failed to convert, taking three points off the board.

The Longhorns went into halftime with a 14-6 lead as Mississippi State used a ground-heavy approach behind true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. The Bulldogs ran 73 plays to Texas’ 62, but the Longhorns outgained them 522 yards to 294. There were also 17 penalties in the game, many with lengthy reviews.

“It was hard for the game to get a rhythm to it,” Sarkisian said.

But he was pleased the Longhorns navigated this stretch of the season and Quinn Ewers’ injury to start 5-0. It’s the second straight season Texas has started 5-0, marking only the second time in the past 50 years the Longhorns have done it in back-to-back years. Texas has an off week coming up, followed by the Red River Rivalry in Dallas against Oklahoma, before Georgia comes to Austin the following week.

Sarkisian said the Longhorns showed poise, and he was pleased they were able to survive their first SEC challenge while letting Ewers recover from a strained oblique injury without having to rush him back.

“We need Quinn back because he’s our quarterback and he’s our leader,” Sarkisian said. “I think that impacts the entire team and belief, but what I think we learned and what Arch learned here over the last 2½ games is this team can count on him too.”

Manning said he was ready for Ewers’ return whenever that might be.

“I think Quinn’s proved himself,” Manning said. “I mean, he led us to the Sugar Bowl last year and he’s played really well this year, so this is his team. I think he’s going to come back and play really well, but I’ll be ready for when my number’s called if they need me. So we’re just going to try and keep this thing rolling.”

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning passed for two touchdowns and ran for another score, and No. 1 Texas got another standout performance from its defense to earn the program’s first Southeastern Conference victory, 35-13 over Mississippi State on Saturday.

Manning was 26-of-31 passing for 324 yards in his second consecutive start in place of Quinn Ewers, who is still recovering from a strained abdomen.

Texas joined the SEC this season from the Big 12 and delivered a rugged, ragged and ultimately effective debut.

Manning’s 49-yard touchdown pass to Deondre Moore in the second quarter, and his 1-yard TD run in the third, opened up a tighter-than-expected matchup with the Bulldogs, who have lost four in a row.

Manning set up his own touchdown with a 26-yard scramble near the goal line, and the touchdown made it 21-6 on the final play of the third quarter. Another scoring strike to Moore early in the fourth essentially put the game away for the Longhorns (5-0, 1-0).

Texas had cruised through its first four games and raced to an opening touchdown in five plays. But the Longhorns soon bogged down with a turnover, a dropped touchdown pass and a partially blocked punt.

Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2) had outgained Texas in total yards and pulled within 7-6 late in the first half on two field goals from Kyle Ferrie, until Manning stood in against a blitz and delivered a perfect strike to Moore just before he was hit.

The Longhorns defense did not allow a touchdown until Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren’s 12-yard run with just under 7 minutes left. That score snapped a streak of nine consecutive quarters without giving up a touchdown.

Van Buren started in place of Blake Shapen, who was lost for the season a week ago with a shoulder injury. He finished with 144 yards passing and the TD run.

The Takeaway

Mississippi State: A run-first game plan with Van Buren did what it could to keep the potent Texas offense off the field. It was working until Manning’s late TD strike in the second quarter. Van Buren seemed to handle himself well in his first career start on the road against the No. 1 team in front of about 101,000 opposing fans.

Texas: The Longhorns struggled to run for three quarters against one of the nation’s worst rush defenses, and they were messy with nine penalties for 75 yards. Starting tailback Jaydon Blue killed two Texas drives with fumbles. There’s plenty to clean up before the next two games against No. 21 Oklahoma and No. 2 Georgia that will play a huge factor in whether the Longhorns contend for the SEC championship.

Up Next

Mississippi State is off next week before playing at No. 2 Georgia on Oct. 12.

Texas is off next week before facing No. 21 Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 12.

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• Kimberly Wilkerson is a lifelong Californian who moved to Austin in 2022.
• She preferred Texas’ politics and enjoyed the state’s nature.
• Wilkerson moved back to California earlier this year to be near family.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Wilkerson, a 46-year-old self-published author and entrepreneur who moved from Oakley, California, to Austin in 2022. She stayed 2 ½ years before moving back to California to be close to family.

I was born and raised in Northern California, mostly in the East Bay. I’m a single mother to one son, who is 20 years old.

I felt blessed in California that I could go to the snow, the beach, and the mountains. I could be in any climate that I wanted within a few hours.

Our culture in California is very diverse. Growing up, I had so many friends from all different places. California is a hub for information and innovation. And that’s so beautiful.

But I don’t agree with a lot of what California’s leadership has done, and I had grown frustrated by politics. Both sides have their rights and wrongs. It’s a big ugly mess.

I worked in the corporate world for a while in conjunction with tech. I was able to support both me and my son, and we were comfortable. But I became disabled and was on disability for quite a few years.

Around 2022, however, I was feeling better and got the blessings of my physicians to start working again. I knew I wouldn’t be able to remain in California once I started working because I only paid a portion of my rent and other costs due to my disability.

I knew I needed to create a new life for myself. I started writing again. It was just pouring out of me and before I knew it, I was like, “I’m writing a book!” I was gifted the money to self-publish.

That really started a new life for me. I wanted to build this new creative career for myself, so I was willing to do almost anything as far as jobs that would bring in income.

Both my son and I wanted to move out of California. I was offered a job to relocate to Texas. I took a job as a night auditor, basically the hotel manager, for a major hotel chain.

I wanted to be able to buy a home. So, we said, let’s do it. And we headed for Texas.

I was excited to move to Texas

I didn’t really have any anxiety. My son and I had been through a lot and needed a fresh start.

We moved to Austin originally. But as Austin continued to grow, we moved just north of the city. I’m seeing that happen a lot more. People have to spread out because parts of Texas are growing so fast.

The state is so much bigger than we give it credit for. You can drive for 50 miles and see nothing but emptiness and fields.

Once you get to Austin, though, it feels like you’re in a mini-California. I think a lot of people in the last few years have moved there and influenced the culture.

Within one year of being in Texas, I saw so much growth. It just throws everything out of whack.

But for the most part, everyone was beautiful and very welcoming to us. We were embraced in Texas.

The first question I was usually asked was, “What brings you here?” People want to know why you’re there and if you’re going to screw up their state.

My normal response was, “I know a lot of people from California have moved here, and I believe everybody has a different reason for it.”

I went to Texas to have the American dream. My main priority is to have a solid foundation to leave for my son and his future family. That’s it. I don’t need a lot. I just need my little part.

I think the Texans understood that about me. I have friends there now who are like family.

The nature in Texas is undeniably the most peaceful and beautiful I’ve encountered in my life thus far.

I also felt like Texas was offering politics that I was more in favor of than California.

I stayed in Texas for 2 ½ years

My mother was growing more ill. Her health had been declining since I left. I had a hope of moving my mother to Texas, but that wasn’t going to be possible. It was better for me to come back to California.

Having said that, I still want to go back.

It was a difficult decision to some degree. I came back at the end of July.

There has been good and bad. It’s been good to see friends and family, and I’ve done a lot of healing in my relationships here.

When I went back to my old church, they said, “We saved your seat; here it is.” It was really beautiful. I felt very welcomed.

I got to see my mom laugh last night, and it was so beautiful. A moment like that makes being here worth it.

But I hope to go back to Texas one day. I’m waiting for the next right thing, which ideally would be if I’m getting married. Then, whichever place my husband is most comfortable will be my home.