Quinn Ewers throws for 3 TDs as No. 5 Texas beats No. 25 Vanderbilt 27-24

The No. 5 Texas Longhorns faced off against the No. 25 Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, and Quinn Ewers led his team to a thrilling 27-24 victory. Ewers threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns as the Longhorns bounced back from last week’s loss to Georgia, which ended their stay atop the AP Top 25 poll.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading scores throughout the day. Ewers got things started for Texas with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jake Smith in the first quarter. Vanderbilt responded with a field goal, but Ewers struck again in the second quarter with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Whittington. The Commodores scored a touchdown just before halftime to tie the game at 14-14.

In the third quarter, Texas regained the lead with a 45-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker. Vanderbilt threatened to score late in the quarter, but a fumble by running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn was recovered by Texas linebacker Ayodele Adeoye, ending the Commodores’ drive.

Ewers sealed the victory for Texas with his third touchdown pass of the day, a 17-yard strike to tight end Cade Brewer in the fourth quarter. Vanderbilt had one last chance to tie the game, but a Hail Mary pass from Ken Seals to Cam Johnson fell incomplete as time expired.

Ewers’ performance was impressive, completing 24 of 35 passes and connecting with seven different receivers. Smith led all receivers with six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. The Longhorns’ rushing attack was also effective, with Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson combining for 160 yards on 29 carries.

The victory marked Texas’ first road win over a ranked opponent since 2019, when they beat then-No. 20 Kansas State. The Longhorns have now won four straight games against Vanderbilt and improve to 5-1 all-time against the Commodores.

Vanderbilt’s Seals threw for 276 yards and a touchdown, but also had two interceptions. His top target, Cam Johnson, hauled in eight passes for 102 yards. The Commodores’ running game struggled, mustering just 39 yards on 18 carries.

The win moves Texas to 5-1 (3-0 in SEC play), while Vanderbilt falls to 4-2 (1-2 in SEC play). The Longhorns will face another tough test next week, hosting No. 12 Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, will look to bounce back against South Carolina.

In conclusion, Quinn Ewers’ outstanding performance led Texas to a hard-fought victory over Vanderbilt. The Longhorns’ offense clicked on all cylinders, and their defense made timely stops to secure the win. The victory marks a positive step forward for Texas in their quest for an SEC championship, while Vanderbilt will look to regroup and refocus for the remainder of their season.