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Arch Manning, Texas Receive Major Injury Update on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 1:10 PM ET

Quarterback Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns have not had the start they were looking for in the 2025 season. Texas was ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll and is now No. 22 after going 5-2 through its first seven games. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns lost their season opener to the Ohio State Buckeyes and fell to the unranked Florida Gators.

Manning, the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, has not played up to expectations. He has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,449 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also run for five scores on the ground.

Texas has been missing a key piece of its offensive attack in running back CJ Baxter.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) hands off to running back CJ Baxter (4) against the Ohio State Buckeyes.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Baxter played the first three games of the year, totaling 24 carries for 110 yards without reaching the end zone. He injured his hamstring on the first snap of the game against the UTEP Miners in Week 3 and has been out since then.

After he was listed as probable throughout this week for Saturday's matchup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Texas received an update on his status on Friday.

"Texas running back CJ Baxter is expected to be available against Mississippi State, barring a setback, sources tell @On3sports," wrote On3 reporter Pete Nakos.

Texas running back CJ Baxter is expected to be available against Mississippi State, barring a setback, sources tell @On3sports.

Baxter has missed the last five games. He's been listed as probable all week. https://t.co/L0YCs6SNdW https://t.co/qGmJOZb4kF pic.twitter.com/IHqfYONODx
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) October 24, 2025

If Baxter is able to suit up for Texas, it would be a big lift for the Longhorns' running game. The team's leading rusher this season, Quintrevion Wisner, has just 222 yards on 58 carries.

Baxter was a five-star recruit and the top-ranked running back in the class of 2023 out of Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, according to 247Sports.

Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC) and Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3 SEC) kick off their matchup at 4:15 p.m. ET on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium on the SEC Network.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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