Arch Manning struggles, Colin Simmons injured as Florida scores 24 straight games to upset No. 7 Texas

By the end of the second quarter Saturday at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, No. 7 Texas had 14 points up on a Florida team in free fall. The Gators, ranked No. 8 earlier this month, were coming off back-to-back losses, the second of which came at the hands of a South Carolina team that was previously winless in SEC competition.

To top it all off, Florida arrived in Austin with its QB1 nursing a shoulder injury he suffered in that disheartening loss to the Gamecocks.

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With Aaron Philo only available as an emergency replacement, sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. earned his first career start. Despite the hostile environment and the two-score deficit, Jones emerged victorious on the road against the suddenly faltering Longhorns.

The Jones-led Gators dominated the “middle eight,” pairing a quick touchdown run before intermission with a much longer touchdown drive after halftime en route to scoring 24 straight points in a 27-24 victory.

For Jon Sumrall’s Florida, it was a surprise victory. For Steve Sarkisian’s Texas, it was a total disappointment. In fact, it was the Longhorns’ largest home lead against an unranked opponent since 1965, according to ESPN.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning struggled for most of the afternoon, a week after throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions, including a pick-6, during a nerve-wracking Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma.

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Entering the final game against Florida, Manning was averaging -0.7 air yards per completion, according to the ESPN broadcast. Although he wowed by evading and then overcoming pressure to complete a 62-yard completion to wideout Emmett Mosley V — a gain that set up a 9-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman — he fumbled on a potential game-winning drive on the next series.

To make matters worse for the Longhorns, their star passer, Colin Simmons, suffered a lower leg injury in the fourth quarter and did not return. Simmons started the day with a nation-high 9.5 sacks and added one more to his total.

He is a heralded NFL Draft prospect. Manning has been in the past; However, its stock has taken a serious hit this month.

This story is currently being updated.