No. 16 Texas 27, No. 3 Texas A&M 17: Three things we learned

In a year where the No. 176Texas Longhorns were frustrated against lesser opponents, putting together a decisive victory against your hated rival, denying the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies an appearance in a conference title game three decades is a great way to end the regular season, winning on Friday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, 27-17. Doing it by two scores in victory formation feels even sweeter as Texas looks to see the rest of the playoff scenarios work themselves out.

With adequate blocking, Texas has potential on the ground

The Longhorns couldn’t seem to find their way on the ground in previous games, but Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff found something they liked in the Aggies’ defense and pressed that advantage late.

Texas rushed for just 61 yards in the first half, but was rushing at a 4.7 yards per play clip, but leaned into the run in the third quarter to great success. They rushed for 83 yards on just 10 carries in the quarter, mainly by Quintrevion Wisner, who turned in the first 100-yard game of the season. It was fitting that the play that iced the game came by Wisner’s legs, a 30-yard breakaway where he slid down early and let Texas kneel out the clock.

The defense can rise to the occasion

When Texas A&M was driving and looking to close the game to one possession, a pressured Marcel Reed tossed a ball over the middle, and Texas senior Michael Taaffe got underneath it for a turnover. On his next throw, Kobe Black jumped a pass to give the Longhorns the ball and effectively end the threat. Those plays were emblematic of how the Longhorns beat the previously undefeated Aggies. Coming into the game, Texas A&M was averaging 38.1 points and 465 yards of offense per game, and the Texas defense was reeling after allowing 72 combined points in back-to-back weeks.

Held Marcel Reed to just 180 yards and without a touchdown for the first time this year. Similarly, the Aggies’ ground game was stifled, with Reuben Owens held to just 48 yards on 13 carries, leaving the Aggies without a 100-yard rusher.

Arch Manning can put the team on his back

Arch Manning took a while to settle into the position and the expectations, but ended the year with two of the best performances he may have in the entirety of his career. Texas was struggling to find its rhythm on the ground when Steve Sarkisian dialed up a quarterback keeper for Arch Manning, a play that instantly entered into Lone Star Showdown lore. It was a well-timed, well-blocked play that gave Manning enough room to break to the second level and give Texas a 10-point cushion with just seven minutes left in the game.