AUSTIN — The SEC era in Austin has officially begun, though it could’ve certainly gotten off to a smoother start.

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns kicked off conference play Saturday at home against Mississippi State, but did so without their starting quarterback. With Quinn Ewers sidelined for a second straight game, Arch Manning got the start and led Texas to a 14-6 halftime lead over the Bulldogs. He went 15 of 19 passing for 202 yards and one touchdown in the first half.

Mississippi State dominated time of possession 20:34 to 8:57 in the first half, as head coach Jeff Lebby’s game plan was clearly to keep the ball out of Manning’s hands.

The Bulldogs put together a steady opening drive that featured a heavy dose of runs, as both Van Buren and backup quarterback Chris Parson used their legs.

And on Texas’ first possession, Manning found Matthew Golden for a 22-yard gain on a comeback route that got 15 yards added on due to a facemask penalty. On the next play, he connected with Isaiah Bond for a 16-yard pickup. The Longhorns were right outside the red zone after just two plays.

Sophomore receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. appeared to have a touchdown two plays later, but his 20-yard gain was ruled short of the end zone at the one-yard line. Blue punched it on the next play for this fifth total touchdown in the last five quarters.

After a quick Bulldogs three-and-out, the Longhorns were in prime position once again after competitions of 27 and 17 yards to Bond. However, Blue made his first big miscue of the season with a fumble at the 20-yard line that Mississippi State recovered.

The Bulldogs were unable to take advantage of the takeaway and punted after seven plays. Texas was unable to do anything as well on the ensuing possession after a holding penalty on Cam Williams forced the drive to end in a three-and-out.

A partially-blocked punt by the Bulldogs set Van Buren and the offense up at the Texas 37-yard line. After gaining only 10 yards in seven plays, Mississippi State got on the board with a 45-yard field goal from Kyle Ferrie to make it a 7-3 game.

Looking to respond, the Longhorns started the next drive with a 12-yard catch-and-run from running back Quintrevion Wisner, who powered through multiple defenders. Manning then took a depp shot to Johntay Cook II, Wisner’s second cousin, two plays later on third down, but the would-be 62-yard touchdown fell through his hands. Texas punted for the second straight drive.

The Bulldogs added their second field goal on a 10-play, 64 drive to make it a 7-6 after the two-minute timeout.

Texas had one last chance to make the most of the first half, which Manning did after finding Moore Jr. for a lofting 49-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline with 29 seconds to play.

The Longhorns will get the ball to begin the second half.

Arch Manning and the top-ranked Texas Longhorns play their first official Southeast Conference game on their home field Saturday against Mississippi State. The game is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. ET (3:15 p.m. CT) with TV coverage on SEC Network and streaming on-demand.

• How to watch: Live streams of the Texas vs. Mississippi State game are available with offers from FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV (low intro rate) and DirecTV Stream (free trial).
• For a limited time, FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month after the free trial period. With $30 offer, plans start at $49.99.

Mississippi State (1-3) at #1 Texas Longhorns (4-0)

NCAA football matchup at a glance

When: Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4:15 p.m. ET (3:15 p.m. CT)

Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas

TV channel: SEC Network

Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low intro rate) | DirecTV Stream (free trial)

Texas is a huge 38.5-point favorite in its SEC opener over the Bulldogs with no decision yet as of Thursday afternoon whether Quinn Ewers (oblique strain) would return and in what capacity. Former 5-star prospect Arch Manning has made the past two starts in his absence and completed 24-of-41 passes for 481 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

Mississippi State has dropped three straight games where the Bulldogs gave up 30-plus points to Arizona State (30-23), Toledo (41-17) and Florida (45-28). Mississippi State is a big underdog against Texas, then also has to go on the road and face No. 2 Georgia following a Week 6 bye.

#1 Texas Longhorns vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Know your live streaming options

• FuboTV (free trial) – excellent viewer experience with huge library of live sports content; free trial lengths vary; monthly rate after free trial starts at $49.99 for duration of $30 first month discount.
• SlingTV (low intro rate) – discounted first month is best if you’ve run out of free trials or you’re in the market for 1+ month of TV
• DirecTV Stream (free trial) – not the same level of viewer experience as FuboTV, but the standard 7-day free trial is still the longest in streaming.

The Longhorns and Bulldogs are set for a 4:15 p.m. ET start on SEC Network. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate).