Texas defeats Missouri 34-20 amid disputed fumble call
Texas beat No. 19 Missouri 34-20, with officials ruling a controversial fumble in the third quarter that was upheld on review.
Texas secured a 34-20 victory over Missouri on Saturday, keeping its College Football Playoff hopes alive. The game featured a contentious third-quarter play in which quarterback Arch Manning was hit from behind and the ball was ruled a fumble after it touched a Missouri defender. SEC officials reviewed the play and confirmed the call, despite criticism from the broadcast team and some viewers. Two plays later, Manning connected on a touchdown pass that tied the score at 20-20, and Texas went on to pull ahead for the win. The Longhorns, ranked No. 7, will travel to Baton Rouge next week for a matchup against LSU.
"The call on the field was ruled a fumble, and the review upheld that decision," the SEC officiating crew said.
Missouri, led by quarterback Austin Simmons, contested several calls but could not overcome the Longhorns, who also struggled with penalties and inconsistent offensive execution throughout the game.