Texas holds off Vanderbilt as CFP hopes rise | JQJO

No. 20 Texas beat Vanderbilt 34-31, striking first with a 75-yard Arch Manning-to-Ryan Wingo score and an offense that cashed six of seven drives. Manning, limited in practice by concussion protocol, was sharp behind a standout line, while Texas’ front smothered Vanderbilt until the final 10 minutes. Then Diego Pavia led three late touchdown drives to cut a 34-10 gap to three. It’s Texas’ fourth straight win and second over an AP Top 25 opponent, pushing the 7-2 Longhorns squarely into the CFP conversation days before the first rankings.