Texas 34, Missouri 20: Manning and Brown close with 21 straight points

No. 7 Texas and No. 18 Missouri were level at 20 late in the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Then Texas scored the last 21 points. Arch Manning threw touchdowns on consecutive possessions and Raleek Brown finished it with a run, giving the Longhorns a 34-20 win and their fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season.

The difference was third down. Texas converted 6 of 13. Missouri converted 3 of 16, and the Tigers did not have a drive in the final 20 minutes that changed the score.

How it was won

Missouri struck first. Austin Simmons found Brett Norfleet for a 2-yard touchdown at 8:40 of the first quarter. Texas answered within three minutes on Manning's 24-yard pass to Derrek Cooper. Blake Craig's 22-yard field goal put Missouri back in front, and Gianni Spetic's 27-yarder with 1:57 left in the half sent the teams in at 10-10.

The third quarter traded kicks before it opened up. Craig hit from 48, Spetic from 34. At 4:52, Simmons found Naeshaun Montgomery for a 72-yard touchdown and a 20-13 Missouri lead. It lasted three minutes. Manning hit Jermaine Bishop Jr. for 25 yards and the tie with 1:52 left in the quarter.

The fourth belonged to Brown. He caught a 23-yard touchdown from Manning at 5:03 for a 27-20 lead, then ran in from 8 yards at 1:25 to put it away.

Manning finished 28 of 38 for 297 yards and three touchdowns. Brown carried 17 times for 85 yards and scored twice in total. Emmett Mosley V caught five passes for 85 yards, and Bishop added four for 60. Texas outgained Missouri 401 to 336, had 21 first downs to 17 and held the ball for 32:26.

Simmons threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns but completed 23 of 43. Montgomery had 81 of his yards on two catches. Cayden Lee was the steadier target with nine catches for 79 yards. Jamal Roberts ran 19 times for 66 yards, and Missouri managed 84 on the ground overall.

Texas won despite losing the turnover count, two to one.

Against the number

Texas closed as a 2.5-point favorite and won by 14, so the Longhorns covered comfortably in the end. For most of the night it was a coin flip. The game was tied entering the fourth quarter, and Texas did not move clear of the number until Brown's catch with just over five minutes left.

The total closed at 44.5, and 54 points went the over. That one was also late. The score sat at 40 after Bishop's touchdown, and Brown's two fourth-quarter scores carried it past.

On the moneyline, Texas at -130 paid out and Missouri at +110 did not. Full closing odds are on the game page.

What's next

Texas moves to 7-2, with its losses to Florida and Oklahoma each by 27-24. The Longhorns have now beaten Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Missouri, and they have won three straight since the Oklahoma loss. Next is a trip to No. 14 LSU on Saturday, November 14 (ABC).

Missouri falls to 6-3. All three losses have come to Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Texas, and the Tigers are 0-2 against ranked teams away from home this season after the Ole Miss loss. The road does not get easier: Missouri travels to No. 2 Georgia on Saturday, November 14 (ABC).