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Texas closed its regular season with a statement win in Austin, beating No. 3 Texas A&M 27–17 and claiming a third straight victory in the renewed rivalry. The Longhorns rallied in the second half, mixing a dominant ground attack with timely defensive plays to turn a halftime deficit into a decisive victory.
Linebacker breakout: Liona Lefau delivers 11 tackles
With starters sidelined or penalized, Texas needed depth to answer on defense. Liona Lefau provided that spark, recording a career-high 11 total tackles as the Longhorns limited the Aggies in key moments. Pro Football Focus credited Lefau with an 87.1 overall grade, the best among Texas defenders that night.
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- Lefau finished with double-digit stops for the first time in his career.
- His tackles came at both the line of scrimmage and in space.
- The performance helped compensate for injuries and earlier ejections.
Quintrevion Wisner fuels the offense with 155 rushing yards
The offensive MVP was Quintrevion Wisner, who powered a Texas ground game that wore down A&M. Wisner rushed for 155 yards on 19 carries, an 8.2-yard average that included a late, game-sealing touchdown run.
Why the run mattered
- It was Wisner’s first 100-yard game of the season and the fifth of his career.
- His early and late bursts mirrored last season’s Cotton Showdown success.
- The run game opened opportunities for play-action and third-down conversions.
Explosive plays changed momentum: Nine big gains in the second half
Steve Sarkisian’s offense delivered when it counted, with nine plays of 15 yards or more. All nine came after halftime and included two touchdowns that helped erase a 10–3 deficit.
- Big plays included Wisner’s 30-yard dash that clinched the outcome.
- These explosive gains kept the chains moving and flipped field position.
- Late-game execution minimized A&M’s chances for a comeback.
Standings and College Football Playoff implications for Texas
The Longhorns closed the regular season at 9–3 overall and 6–2 in conference play. Their résumé now awaits the next College Football Playoff rankings, which will shape conference championship matchups and postseason hopes.
- Texas’ resume strengthens with a signature win over a top-three opponent.
- Voters will weigh late-season form and head-to-head results.
- The penultimate CFP poll arrives before the conference title games this weekend.
Other college football headlines to watch
- Updated NCAA Top 25 polls after Week 14
- Florida names Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as head coach
- Pat Fitzgerald issues first comments since rejoining the Big Ten sidelines
- Top takeaways from Lane Kiffin’s introductory press conference at LSU
