Manning and No. 11 Texas want to keep momentum going against a Mis­sis­sippi State team missing Taylor – Spectrum News

Manning and No. 11 Texas want to keep momentum going against a Mis­sis­sippi State team missing Taylor  Spectrum News

After beating Ole Miss, the Longhorns are looking to get on a roll. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas quarterback Arch Manning rediscovered his edge, and the smiles have returned for the Longhorns as the season passes the midway point and churns toward the College Football Playoff. The same cannot be said for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Quarterback Kamario Taylor was ruled out for the rest of the season with a toe injury that will require surgery. The No. 11 Longhorns (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) and Bulldogs (4-3, 2-3) play Saturday night on two different trajectories. Texas is feeling good again, while Mississippi State is trying to hold things together. Manning shook off two weeks of white-hot criticism after consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida raised questions over whether he would be benched.

A 24-3 first-half lead in an eventual 34-27 win over Mississippi ended that. That victory kept Texas firmly in the hunt in an SEC where every team already has at least one loss. Mississippi State started 4-0 and rose to No. 16 when Taylor was one of the most exciting players in the country. He was injured in a win over Missouri, and the Bulldogs have been on a slide ever since. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he doesn't expect Mississippi State to try to slow down its