Here’s a detailed recap of the Texas Longhorns vs. UTEP Miners game from September 13, 2025 a gritty, somewhat messy win for the Horns, but a win nonetheless. 🤘
Final Score & Setting the Scene
Texas, ranked No. 7 at the time, defeated UTEP 27-10 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Horns move to 2-1 for the season. Despite entering as heavy favorites, the Longhorns showed vulnerability, especially through the air.
Offensive Struggles and Rushing Resurgence
Arch Manning, Texas’ quarterback, had a rough game. He completed just 11 of 25 passes for 114 yards, threw one passing touchdown, and also tossed an interception. His passing game was especially inconsistent in the first half he went 5-of-16 for 69 yards at one point, had a red-zone interception, and endured boos from the home crowd.
But the ground game was Texas’ saving grace. With running back CJ Baxter injured on the first play and unable to return, the Longhorns leaned heavily on backups. Freshman James Simon led the rushers with 67 yards, while sophomore Jerrick Gibson added another 64 yards. Manning himself also contributed on the ground, rushing for two touchdowns. Overall, Texas ran the ball 56 times vs. 25 pass attempts.
Defense Dominates
While the offense sputtered at times, Texas’ defense did not. The Longhorns held UTEP to 259 total yards and forced two turnovers. They limited UTEP’s big plays, kept them out of the end zone until late in the fourth, and stifled many threats before they became dangerous. Key defensive players created pressure, disrupted passing lanes, and made UTEP uncomfortable for much of the game.
Key Moments & Turning Points
Opening punch hurt by injury: CJ Baxter goes down with a hamstring injury on the very first carry, placing more pressure on Texas’ depth at running back.
First-half chaos: Manning’s passing woes including a stretch of 10 straight incompletions and that red-zone pick had many fans concerned.
Late scoring seal it:
The Horns finally found rhythm in the second half, pushing ahead with steadier rushing and putting together enough of a scoring drive to pull away. An important pass TD to Ryan Wingo in the fourth helped solidify the win.
What It Means Moving Forward
This game will probably be remembered as a “W, but…” a win that showed Texas can survive issues in the passing game, but not without struggle. With tougher opponents ahead, the passing offense will need to mature fast. Manning, though shaky, showed flashes, especially with his legs and dual-threat potential. The running backs stepping up without the starters will be a positive sign for depth and resilience.
Defensively, Texas reaffirmed its strength. If the defense keeps performing at this level, it could carry the team through tougher stretches. But penalties, inefficiencies, and turnovers will need to be cleaned up.
Standout Players
Arch Manning: Two rushing touchdowns, leadership under pressure, but mixed in passing.
James Simon & Jerrick Gibson: Fresh faces who delivered when needed. Their contributions in the run game were crucial.
Texas Defense: Held UTEP mostly in check, forced turnovers, and reduced explosive plays.
Final Thoughts
Texas held on for a 27-10 victory over UTEP. It wasn’t pretty, especially under the microscope given Manning’s hype, but the Horns showed enough grit, running power, and defensive dominance to get the job done. As the SEC schedule looms, there are questions to be answered, but this win does provide momentum, confidence, and lessons learned. Horns win, hard fought. 🤘
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