The lights were bright. The stage was enormous. The expectations were immense. And for the No. 10 Texas Longhorns, the night unraveled with a cold, undeniable truth:
Georgia is still Georgia.
The No. 5 Bulldogs imposed their will in a 35–10 victory. Their defense swallowed Texas whole, pressuring Arch Manning, collapsing pockets, and forcing the young quarterback into hurried decisions. Manning threw one interception, was sacked three times, and never found the rhythm he had been building over the past month.
It wasn’t just that he struggled. It was who was on the other sideline.
Gunner Stockton played like a quarterback commanding a battleship, calm, precise, unshakable. He completed 24 of 29 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns, a performance that showcased both efficiency and complete mastery of the moment. On a night when Manning faltered, Stockton soared.
Georgia dominated the time of possession, 35:09 to 24:51, suffocating Texas’ chances of finding a second wind. Every long Bulldog drive felt like another reminder that the Bulldogs still live at college football’s highest altitude.
And yet, all isn’t lost for Arch Manning.
He had shown real growth in the weeks leading up to this matchup, growth that doesn’t vanish because of one bruising night against one of the nation’s most physical defenses. Texas still has everything to play for, and Manning still controls his trajectory.
The question now isn’t “Is Arch a star?”
It’s “How will he respond?”
His answer begins Saturday against Arkansas.
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