No. 7 Texas Rallies Past No. 18 Missouri 34-20 to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

COLUMBIA, Missouri — No. 7 Texas refused to let its College Football Playoff hopes die on the road. Trailing No. 18 Missouri 20-13 before a loud, hostile crowd at Faurot Field, the Longhorns scored 21 straight points in the closing minutes to win 34-20 on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The Texas Missouri comeback kept Texas at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC, while Missouri fell to 6-3 and 3-3 in conference play, and its own path to a possible playoff berth came to an end.

Key Points

• No. 7 Texas beat No. 18 Missouri 34-20 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.
• Missouri led 20-13 and had never trailed until five minutes remained, when Arch Manning found Releek Brown on a 23-yard touchdown pass.
• Texas then scored 21 straight points, ending Missouri's path to a possible College Football Playoff berth.
• Manning completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, even with star receiver Cam Coleman sidelined.
• Texas improves to 7-2 and 4-2 in the SEC; Missouri falls to 6-3 and 3-3, and next travels to No. 2 Georgia on November 14.

What Happened

For almost the entire afternoon, neither team could pull away. The sides were never separated by more than seven points, and Missouri held the lead for most of the game, going in front 20-13 and controlling the tempo before its home crowd. Texas had answers all day but could not find the lead — until the final five minutes changed everything.

The turning point came when Manning found running back Releek Brown on a 23-yard touchdown pass, giving Texas its first lead. The Longhorns did not look back, scoring 21 straight points to turn a 20-13 deficit into a 34-20 win that looked comfortable on the scoreboard but was anything but comfortable for most of the afternoon.

Manning was the difference. He completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, delivering his best throws when the game was on the line, and he did it without star receiver Cam Coleman. Texas also won the hidden parts of the game: the Longhorns were better on third down, their defence held up late, and they kept the ball for almost five minutes more than Missouri.

Background: A Season on the Line in Columbia

The stakes were clear before kickoff. In Tuesday's initial College Football Playoff rankings, Texas sat at No. 7 and Missouri at No. 18, and both teams knew what a win would mean. For Texas, it was a chance to protect a playoff resume built on wins over Ohio State, Tennessee and Ole Miss. For Missouri, it was the win it had to have — the victory that would keep a realistic path to the playoff alive.

Missouri arrived in good form, having beaten Arkansas 34-10 on October 31 behind a strong running game and four forced turnovers. Texas came in knowing a second loss would not end its season but would leave almost no margin for error. The setting matched the stakes: a ranked SEC showdown, a full stadium, and two teams with everything to play for.

Texas Missouri 34-20: How the Comeback Unfolded

The comeback was not one play but a final stretch in which Texas finally played to its ranking. Missouri led 20-13 and had the game in its hands, but the Tigers could not land the blow that would have put Texas away. The Longhorns stayed patient, kept their composure in a difficult road environment, and waited for their opening.

It came with five minutes left, when Manning connected with Brown for the 23-yard score that put Texas ahead for the first time. The touchdown broke Missouri's grip on the game, and the Longhorns kept pouring it on, scoring 21 unanswered points to turn a tight contest into a two-touchdown win. What had been a back-and-forth battle for more than 55 minutes ended with Texas firmly in control.

Reactions and Analysis

College Football News, in its Week 10 roundup, praised the way Texas handled the occasion, writing: "That was a jacked up Missouri team in a fantastic environment, and the Longhorns kept their cool." The same analysis noted that Manning, for all the criticism he has faced this season, "was able to come up big" when it mattered most, hitting 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three scores without his star receiver.

The analysis also pointed out that Missouri had its chances. The Tigers did not get much luck from the officials, with several reviews going against them, but they also had opportunities to overcome those breaks and could not take them. It was a familiar story for a team that played well enough to win for most of the game but could not finish — and against a top-10 opponent, that is usually enough to lose.

Why It Matters

The win keeps Texas firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. At 7-2, with wins over Ohio State, Tennessee and Ole Miss already on the resume, the Longhorns can still afford one more slip and remain in the conversation — there will be plenty of talk about a 9-3 SEC team getting in. But the win in Columbia means Texas does not have to rely on that argument yet. It controls its own path, and a strong finish would make its case far simpler.

For Missouri, the loss ends the dream. At 6-3 with a trip to No. 2 Georgia next, followed by Kentucky and Oklahoma, the Tigers no longer have a realistic route to the playoff. The game they had to have slipped away in the final five minutes, and the rest of their season is now about pride, bowl position and building toward next year.

What Happens Next

Missouri faces the hardest possible response to a heartbreaking loss: a trip to Athens to face No. 2 Georgia on Saturday, November 14. After that, the Tigers close with Kentucky and Oklahoma. Texas still has work to do, with a trip to LSU ahead and a rivalry game at Texas A&M to finish the regular season — and as the playoff race tightens, every remaining game carries the same weight as the one in Columbia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Texas vs Missouri?
Texas beat Missouri 34-20 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.

How did Texas come back to win?
Missouri led 20-13 and had never trailed until five minutes remained. Arch Manning then found Releek Brown on a 23-yard touchdown pass, and Texas scored 21 straight points.

How did Arch Manning play?
Manning completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, even with star receiver Cam Coleman sidelined.

What are Texas and Missouri's records now?
Texas improves to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC. Missouri falls to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC.

Who does Missouri play next?
Missouri travels to No. 2 Georgia on Saturday, November 14, in Athens, then closes against Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Related: Missouri Beats Arkansas 34-10 and South Carolina Routs Oklahoma 42-25.