Texas takes down Texas A&M: No. 16 Longhorns alter CFP, SEC title pictures with win over No. 3 Aggies

Texas entered the week ranked 105th nationally in yards per carry, but its struggling ground game finally broke through against Texas A&M. Tre Wisner delivered his first 100-yard performance of the season, rushing for 155 yards on 19 carries -- a much-needed boost on a night when Arch Manning completed just 14 of 29 passes.

While Manning wasn't able to consistently challenge A&M's secondary through the air, he did make an impact with his legs, highlighted by a 35-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed the win. Texas' run game -- and its oft-criticized offensive line -- picked the right night to rise to the moment.

Texas A&M was perfect all season, but its loss in the final week of the regular season could end up costing the Aggies significantly. The defeat knocked them out of the SEC Championship Game race, and their chances at earning a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff are now in real jeopardy with conference title games still ahead.

The SEC champion — whether it's Georgia or someone else — is a virtual lock for a bye. Either Ohio State or Indiana will claim one as well, and Texas Tech can finish 12-1 and position itself for another. Texas A&M won't fall far enough to lose a first-round home game, but the Aggies are far more likely to drift toward No. 6 Oregon or No. 7 Ole Miss than to maintain their footing inside the top four.

It's been an excellent season in College Station, but A&M has only one current Top 25 win (Notre Dame). And without a conference championship game to bolster the résumé, the Aggies are out of opportunities to strengthen their case to the selection committee.

There are a lot of teams to leap, but the Longhorns made a compelling playoff case to close the regular season. Texas finishes the year 9-3 overall with a trio of wins (Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Texas A&M), currently ranked in the top 14. Texas also claims a pair of "strong losses," having fallen on the road to top-five teams Ohio State and Georgia. 

It's an interesting case, especially if you consider it didn't have to schedule Ohio State in the nonconference portion of its slate and would probably otherwise sit at 10-2. Still, a three-loss team has never reached the CFB Playoff bracket and the No. 16 Longhorns would have to leap five two-loss teams to make the field. The chances are slim, but Texas gave itself a chance heading into the final two weekends of the season.

Arch Manning scampered 35 yards down the middle for a fourth quarter touchdown, helping No. 16 Texas to secure a 27-17 win over No. 3 Texas A&M.

In the first game between the two rivals in Austin since 2010, the Longhorns staged a second-half comeback that could reshape the texture of the College Football Playoff race. The Aggies, who were up 10-3 at halftime, are out of the SEC championship picture with their loss and could easily fall out the top four and lose a first-round bye.  Texas, meanwhile, secured its third top 14 win over the season and will have at least an outside case to be the first three-loss team to ever reach the playoff.

Either way, it's the second straight season the Longhorns have denied the Aggies an SEC championship spot to close the regular season. 

It's a long-dormant rivalry that's lived up the hype since it's return. 

Texas' run game made the difference in on Friday night. The Longhorns entered the week ranked just 105th nationally in yards per carry. That run game awoke against the Aggies, totaling 220 yards, including a season-high 155 yards from sophomore back Tre Wisner.

Manning did not have a great day through the air, completing fewer than 50% of his passes for the fourth time this season. But he made a few clutch throws when it mattered and used his legs for Texas' most important touchdown of the season.

The Longhorn defense made plenty of plays down the stretch, too. It created a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions. Marcel Reed finished the night 20-for-32 with 180 yards passing, 71 yards rushing and a pair of turnovers. It's a performance that could take him out the Heisman mix, especially with several contenders having an opportunity to make a conference championship game statement. 

Both Texas A&M and Texas will have to wait more than a week to learn their playoff fate. 

The Aggies are a lock to at least host a home playoff game. Texas, meanwhile, will have to hope for back-to-back Saturdays of chaos to leapfrog the glut of two-loss teams ahead of them in the rankings. 

Arch Manning ran for a 35-yard touchdown to give Texas a 27-17 lead. It's Manning's second-longest run of the season and puts Texas in prime position to pull the upset with 7:04 remaining. 

4Q: Texas 20, Texas A&M 17

Texas A&M seemed to doom its drive after committing a late offensive pass interference, but a defensive facemask from Texas defender Jelani McDonald gave the Aggies new life. Quarterback Marcel Reed connected with Theo Melin Ohrstrom for a 28-yard completion and then running back EJ Smith broke off a 13-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to three points. 

Early 4Q: Texas 20, Texas A&M 10

No. 16 Texas took a commanding 20-10 lead against No. 3 Texas A&M early in the fourth quarter against the rival Aggies. Quarterback Arch Manning connected with tight end Jack Endries for a 54-yard completion to set up an end-around to Nick Townsend for a touchdown. 

While Manning's numbers have improved in the second half, running back Quintrevion Wisner has led the surge back from a seven-point deficit. The Dallas native broke off a 48-yard run to set up one score and has become a featured player in the period. Wisner also had 189 yards rushing against Texas A&M last year. 

The Aggies outgained Texas in the first half, but were held to only 35 yards in the second half with only one first down. A potential fourth down conversion was scuttled after a false start penalty near midfield, setting up the Texas touchdown. Quarterback Marcel Reed has 101 yards passing and 51 yards rushing. 

Texas swung the momentum of the game on back-to-back drives. The Aggies were at midfield and prepared to go for it on 4th-and-1 before a false start forced a punt. Texas then responded with a six-play, 83-yard drive to take a 20-10 lead. Tight end Nick Townsend scored the touchdown, but it was a 54-yard Arch Manning pass to tight end Jack Endries that broke things open on the drive. 

Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner played the best game of his career against Texas A&M last season -- a 186-yard performance in a 17-7 win -- and the Aggies are struggling again to contain the Texan. Wisner broke off a run of 48 yards and has 113 yards on only 11 carries to help lead the Longhorns to a 13-10 advantage. Wisner is the first 100-yard rusher for Texas this season, and came against a rushing defense that usually only gives up 118 yards rushing per game. 

Arch Manning found a wide open Ryan Wingo in the back of the end zone to give the Longhorns a 13-10 lead midway through the third quarter. It wasn't the most accurate pass from Manning, but Wingo made an acrobatic adjustment and managed to pull the ball down for the score. Texas went 70 yards in six plays to take the lead. 

Texas failed to capitalize on a trip to the red zone, once again settling for a Mason Shipley field goal. Shipley 46-yard boot cut Texas A&M's lead to 10-6.  

Texas earned a quick three-and-out to begin the second half. It paid that off instantly with a season-long 48-yard run from Tre Wisner. The run puts Texas on the edge of the red zone and within striking distance of tying up the game. 

No. 3 Texas A&M holds a 10-3 lead against No. 16 Texas on the road at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin after wide receiver KC Concepcion took an end-around into the end zone for a touchdown. 

Concepcion has been a game-changer for Texas A&M in the second quarter in every phase. As a punt returner, he broke off a 30-yard return to start in Texas territory. As a receiver, he's second on the team with three catches for 35 yards. And deep in the red zone, Concepcion took his lone carry eight yards for a game-changing Texas A&M touchdown. 

The Aggies' defense has done its part, holding quarterback Arch Manning to only 8-of-21 passes. Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim sacked Manning to end the half, dropping the Longhorns to only 112 total yards in the period. Texas is averaging only 3.1 yards per play. 

Texas A&M lost against Texas last year in the first iteration of the game since 2011. In that matchup, they failed to score an offensive touchdown in a 17-7 loss. Already, they have outscored their previous production in the first half. Quarterback Marcel Reed has 94 yards passing and 45 yards rushing. 

The Aggies get the ball to start the second half. 

Texas A&M managed to force a punt on Texas after a holding penalty, and returner KC Concepcion capitalized. Concepcion broke through a defender and reeled off a 30-yard punt return past midfield, easily the best starting field position of the day for the Aggies. 

2Q: Texas A&M 3, Texas 3

Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein leaned heavily on the running game to set up a game-tying 31-yard field goal by Jared Zirkel. The Aggies carried the ball on six straight plays to help set up an eight-play, 62-yard drive -- aided by a pass interference penalty called against Texas. 

The Aggies are both outpassing and outrushing the Longhorns and have a 136-81 yardage advantage overall halfway through the second quarter. Quarterback Marcel Reed is responsible for 107 out of the Aggies' 136 total yards. 

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed returned to the game after appearing to suffer a non-contact injury at the end of the first quarter. 

Texas put together its best drive of the game, going 57 yards over 14 plays, and took the lead with a 41-yard Mason Shipley field goal. The Longhorns found some momentum on the ground, rushing for 48 yards on the drive. Arch Manning, who is just 5-for-15 passing, created 23 yards on the ground with some well-time scrambles. 

End 1Q: Texas A&M 0, Texas 0

No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 16 Texas are deadlocked in a scoreless battle at the end of the first quarter in Austin. The teams have played six combined drives, which have ended with five punts and a missed field goal by Texas A&M. 

The Aggies have moved the ball consistently as receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion have combined for four catches for 47 yards against a lackluster Texas passing defense. Quarterback Marcel Reed also has 29 yards rushing. 

Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning connected on only 4-of-11 passes in the period to lead an offense that finished with only 41 total yards. Texas running backs have rushed for only five yards on four carries, but Manning added a 12-yard rush to move the chains near midfield. 

Reed went out with an apparent lower body injury late in the first quarter. He was seen jogging on the sidelines trying to get comfortable. If he cannot return, redshirt freshman Miles O'Neil is the backup quarterback for the Aggies. 

Texas prevented Texas A&M from scoring after a trip to the red zone thanks to a blocked field goal by Longhorn defensive lineman Ethan Burke. The 35-yard attempt by Jared Zirkel never had much of a chance as Burke came up the middle and made a diving block to halt the Aggies' momentum. The game stays tied at 0-0. 

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed left the game with an apparent non-contact injury in the first quarter against No. 16 Texas. He needed help coming off the field but was able to limp into the injury tent. The Aggies whiffed on a 35-yard field goal attempt after the play. 

Reed appeared to roll his ankle while cutting upfield on second down deep in Texas territory. He quickly crumpled to the ground and was attended to by trainers. Backup quarterback Miles O'Neil -- a redshirt freshman -- entered the game in his place. Reed has since been seen jogging on the sideline. 

The redshirt sophomore Reed has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC, throwing for 2,752 yards and 25 touchdowns during a breakout season. He has 47 yards passing and 29 yards rushing in the first quarter against the Longhorns. 

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed went down with an apparent non-contact injury while breaking off a scramble. Reed is being attended to on the field by trainers. 

Texas A&M punted on its first two drives, but has started breaking off bigger plays to put the Texas defense on its heels. KC Concepcion took a pass and broke a tackle to pull off a 17-yard reception, and Marcel Reed took a quarterback draw 20 yards deep into Texas territory. 

Texas and Texas A&M each started the game with a punt in the first five minutes of action. Texas got a strong nine-yard pass to Emmett Mosley V from Arch Manning, whereas Marcel Reed connected with both Mario Craver and KC Concepcion. However, Jack Bouwmeester's 58-yard punt means that Texas now gets the ball back in great field position. 

From a matchup perspective, Texas A&M clearly has the upper hand. Their passing offense will gave Texas' defense fits. Top pass rusher Cashius Howell is a matchup nightmare against an inconsistent Longhorns offensive line. Even their special teams has created opportunities. But in a rivalry game of this magnitude, it will be a mental game above all. Mike Elko's squad has stepped up in the biggest moments, and they will do the same to clinch their first spot in the SEC Championship Game and finish 12-0. Pick: Texas A&M -2.5

Texas vs. Texas A&M prediction, pick, odds, spread: Aggies face rival Longhorns with SEC title game on line

Shehan Jeyarajah

Texas All-American linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. will not play against Texas A&M with a broken hand. Hill was seen on the field pregame in street clothes. The junior also missed the game last week against Arkansas with the injury. Hill has posted 69 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions. 

With Hill again sidelined, Liona Lefau will step into a starting role at middle linebacker. Lefau has 121 tackles and eight tackles for loss over the past two years and has been a leader for the Longhorns. 

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has come on in the second half of the season, and his performance in a 52-37 win against Arkansas was his finest moment. Manning scored six touchdowns and became the first Longhorn to score a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game. 

However, Manning's efficiency has been lackluster against elite opponents; Texas A&M will be a serious challenge. 

Texas

Out (1H): LB Ty'Anthony Smith

Game Time Decision: LB Anthony Hill Jr

Texas A&M

Out: LB Scooby Williams, S Bryce Anderson, RB Le'Veon Moss, S Rashad Johnson Jr.

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko has led the Aggies to the doorstep of the College Football Playoff. However, two years ago, the Aggies were only hours away from going in another direction. 

Mike Elko arrived at Texas A&M amid a chaotic coaching search. Now, he has the Aggies on the verge of history

Shehan Jeyarajah