With Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers out for the second straight game, redshirt freshman Arch Manning went 26 for 31 through the air in his second career start as the Longhorns defeated Mississippi State 35-13 in their first conference game as an SEC member.

Texas was favored by more than five touchdowns on kickoff, but struggled to get going against the Bulldogs, who were on a three-game losing streak. But a 49-yard touchdown pass from Manning to DeAndre Moore Jr. in the final minute of the first half and a 75-yard touchdown drive Manning finished with his legs late in the third quarter to provide some separation for the No. 1 team in the country. .

Ewers was listed as questionable all week due to the strained oblique he suffered in the win against UTSA on September 14, before being officially ruled out on Saturday. He will get extra recovery time before the No. 1 Longhorns’ next game in two weeks, against Oklahoma in the annual Red River rivalry in Dallas.

What Arch Manning looked like

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian drew up a much different game plan than the one he used in Manning’s first start, last week’s 51-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe.

That game was littered with deep passing plays — Manning attempted 10 of more than 20 air yards, according to TruMedia — but Sarkisian sprinkled in many more short and intermediate throws this week. Manning’s efficiency improved as a result, after he went 15 for 29 in his first start.

The Longhorns leaned heavily on Manning early as the running game struggled to get going. Texas had just 10 rushing yards in the first half.

Manning also took much better care of the ball, avoiding throws into coverage or other danger zones, and finished the day without an interception.

He also showed off his running ability again with a 26-yard run that ultimately set up a 1-yard touchdown sneak.

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Longhorns’ sloppy start

Elite teams are not immune to disappointing performances, and No. 1 Texas is no exception. The Longhorns had to find a way to survive the scare from Kansas State and Houston en route to the College Football Playoff last season.

To win the SEC, Texas has to find a way to win its clunkers, and Saturday certainly qualified as that. Two turnovers, a turnover on downs, a dropped touchdown pass and minimal offensive possessions in the first half made Texas’ SEC opener against Mississippi State a slog.

Complicating matters was an unconventional strategy by Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby, who is known for a wide-open offense that typically operates at a breakneck pace. Going into Saturday’s game, Mississippi State had the third-shortest average time of possession per game in the FBS, with only one drive lasting five or more minutes, according to TruMedia.

But in Saturday’s first half, the Bulldogs had two drives that stretched past the five-minute mark, including their opening drive that lasted seven minutes and eight seconds. That strategy controlled the pace and kept Texas from running away, while also minimizing pressure on true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren, who was making his starting debut on the road.

Although the Bulldogs only scored two field goals before halftime, they limited Texas to four possessions in the first half, two of which came up empty. A Jaydon Blue fumble ended it, and a third-down drop by receiver Johntay Cook on a deep pass led to a punt on the other.

Mississippi State possessed the ball for 21 minutes and three seconds in the first half and limited Texas to just eight minutes and 57 seconds of possession in the first two quarters.

But Manning put an end to those miscues by leading touchdown drives on Texas’ first and last possessions of the first half. Texas’ ability to pull away in the second half was the sign of a mature team.

How Texas Withdrew

It took a while for the Longhorns’ running game to get going, but once it did, Texas took control.

Sarkisian’s early game plan was pass-heavy (the Longhorns relied on their running backs for just six carries in the first half), but Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue went to work in the second half and finished with a total of 124 rushing yards on the day.

Although the start was disjointed, Texas’ victory was encouraging in several ways. The Longhorns’ success leaning on Manning and the passing game showed that even with Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers out, that part of the team can carry them if necessary.

And Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood made the necessary adjustments to get the running game going in the second half, which Texas needed to pull away. The offensive line and running backs responded with better execution in the second half by moving the chains and keeping the ball in their hands rather than letting Mississippi State continue to control the pace.

The Longhorns defense remains strong

Although Van Buren and the Mississippi State offense held onto the ball early, Texas stood strong, pressuring Van Buren and making plays in the backfield. The Longhorns finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss and held Mississippi State to just four yards per play.

Three plays after a Blue fumble to start the second half, Texas defensive lineman Vernon Broughton took a sack of Van Buren to regain possession.

Although Mississippi State averaged more than three minutes of possession on its 11 drives, the Bulldogs only gained an average of 23 yards per drive.

The 13 points Texas allowed Saturday is a season high. Through five games, the Longhorns have allowed just 35 total points.

(Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images)