Texas vs Missouri report card: Longhorns coaches get highest grade. Here's what was lowest

Texas Longhorns defensive back Graceson Littleton (29) intercepts a pass during the game against Missouri at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) On Saturday, the Texas football team made a statement.While trying to cement its status as a surefire College Football Playoff team, the Longhorns earned a 34-20 victory at Missouri. Texas can now claim wins over four AP-ranked teams this season – Missouri was also ranked 18th in the CFP rankings this week – and two of those victories have come on the road.More:Subscribe to the Statesman's Texas sports newsletterHere's how the Longhorns graded out in their triumph against the Tigers. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass during the game against Missouri at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) Quarterback: BSaturday was arguably the best game of Manning's season. He completed 73.7% of his passes while throwing for 297 yards. Manning didn't have top end-zone target Cam Coleman available, so he instead threw touchdown passes to two different running backs and a 25-yard scoring strike to freshman Jermaine Bishop Jr. Missing an open Emmett Mosley V on a third-down pass in Missouri territory was probably the worst of Manning's 10 incomplete passes (especially since a potential incomplete pass was ruled to be a fumble that Texas recovered for a first down).Running back: BRaleek Brown played well, especially after Texas began feeding him the football in the second half. He finished with 85 yards on 17 carries, and he accounted for the game's final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Derrek Cooper also scored a touchdown while Michael Terry III picked up a nice third-down conversion for a backfield that was missing Hollywood Smothers, but this was Brown's show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by hookem.com (@hookemdotcom)Receivers: B-The UT receiving corps was missing Coleman so Bishop (four catches for 60 yards and one touchdown) stepped up in his absence. Ryan Wingo (six catches for 53 yards) had a nice game in his Missouri homecoming while Mosley (five catches for 85 yards) made up for an early fumble. Tight ends: CEmaree Winston and Michael Masunas combined for five catches, but the impact of the tight ends was mostly minimal and Masunas' false start as Texas was trying to run out the clock in the fourth quarter didn't help matters.Offensive line: CThe Texas offensive line unable to keep Manning completely clean as he was sacked three times, and Texas only averaged 2.5 yards per rush. Then there were the mental errors like center Connor Robertson not snapping the football when Missouri was drawn offsides on a fourth-down attempt and Brandon Baker having a holding penalty wipe out a 34-yard pass. But a win's a win so the big guys pass.Defensive line: BColin Simmons was back after missing UT's past two games with a leg injury, but the All-American candidate clearly wasn't himself while playing limited snaps. As a team, Texas only recorded one sack of Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons. But that one sack was recorded by senior Colton Vasek, who had a nice game. As a team, Texas only allowed 69 rushing yards to the talented tandem of Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy. Texas Longhorns linebacker Rasheem Biles (3) and Texas Longhorns linebacker Justin Cryer (28) celebrate a stop during the game against Missouri at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman) Linebackers: BRasheem Biles won't win SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for a third straight week, but that doesn't mean that the senior linebacker had a bad game. Biles has six tackles, three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups all while having his play praised on the ESPN broadcast. Fellow linebacker Justin Cryer also had six tackles.Defensive backs: B-A missed tackle by safety Jelani McDonald led to the longest gain by a Texas opponent since the 2024 season, safety Derek Williams Jr. was beaten for another touchdown pass and the secondary's afternoon may have been even worse if it wasn't for the replay booth. But UT cornerback Warren Roberson forced a fourth-quarter fumble that sealed the win, and Simmons had 20 incomplete passes.Special teams: CYes, Texas had Jonathan Cunningham block a punt and Gianni Spetic kick two field goals. But there were still plenty of blunders on special teams. Spetic booted the kickoff out of bounds to start the second half, and the reliable Ryan Niblett fumbled away a kickoff. Even punter Mac Chiumento had a beautiful punt inside of the 5-yard line counterbalanced by a bad 33-yard kick.Coaching: B+Special teams is still a problem, but this was a mostly-complete win on the road against a top-20 team that also plays in the SEC. Steve Sarkisian's offense wasn't perfect, but the Longhorns still compiled 373 yards and four touchdowns. Will Muschamp's defense also weren't perfect, but the team got stops when it needed to in the fourth quarter and shut down one of the SEC's top rushing attacks.Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.This article originally published at Texas vs Missouri report card: Longhorns coaches get highest grade. Here's what was lowest.