Fans were buzzing over the on-field action after Arch Manning’s outstanding performance against Oklahoma, which helped Texas overcome its shocking defeat to Florida. Manning capped the 23-6 win with a clutch run and a playful wave at the Oklahoma crowd. Off the field, however, things did not go as planned. During what should have been a perfect game day, several fans turned to social media to rant about their frustration with “unacceptable” stadium service. The Texas AD quickly addressed the concerns and issued a public apology.

“@_delconteHook em! Season ticket holders here & we sat in section 125 at the Red River rivalry game. The concessions ran out of water and Gatorade at halftime. We had to go down to lower level or endzone. This is unacceptable. Can you pass this info on to the right personnel?” one fan said.

The Texas AD, Chris Del Conte, took to X to address the issue “Sorry to hear this… We walked the stadium pregame and was given assurances all concessions were well stocked and ready to roll… I’ll add to our game recap meeting on Monday.. Thanks for the info and apologize for this,” he said.

Many fans didn’t have the best game-day experience at the Cotton Bowl, despite the excitement on the field. Long lineups, a lack of concessions, and restricted access to necessities like water and beverages irritated fans, while poor internet connection and a poor PA system made it challenging to keep track of scores in real time. Even the most exciting on-field performances may be overshadowed by logistical issues, as several fans also complained about congestion and difficulties getting to their seats.

The Cotton Bowl’s recent $140 million renovations mostly focused on the west side of the stadium, which addressed problems including wider concourses, new concession areas, and more restrooms.  Even though upgrades like extra escalators and relocated security checks were made to ease the entry, there were no impacts seen on game day.

Both Texas and Oklahoma ADs had acknowledged the issues faced last year and had promised to make changes.

“We were very well aware of the ingress-egress issues last year… In spite of how some people might think, we do listen to what the fans say,” Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione said. “And both of us are walking around, taking notes, looking at issues, and if we can get to a problem immediately, we do that.” While fans were upset over the stadium service, Arch Manning absolutely stole the show on the field.

Arch Manning shines as Texas beats Oklahoma

After two defeats and a rough start to the season, Arch Manning showed everyone why he’s the most talked-about quarterback. Against Oklahoma, he was cool, collected, and clever; he made crucial passes and sustained drives without forcing anything. His game-changing moment came with a perfect touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. in the third quarter, which gave Texas the lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.

“The biggest thing that impressed me this week about his game [is] he didn’t miss one rep at practice this week,” Steve Sarkisian said. “He came back Monday, and he was not 100%. He was beat up. But he took every rep. And I think coming out of a game like that, you earn the respect of your teammates.”

After a clutch run, the young quarterback even waved at Oklahoma fans when he was confident that the game was over. John Mateer of Oklahoma, meanwhile, had trouble settling in the game after recovering from a thumb injury. He was unable to bring the Sooners back because of three interceptions, limited rushing production, and continuous pressure from Texas’s defensive line.

“Yeah, the pain level is nothing,” John Mateer stated. “There’s no excuse. I was ready to go physically, but mentally, I just didn’t perform. My eyes weren’t as good as they needed to be, and when your quarterback doesn’t play good football, it’s hard to win in this league. That’s what happened.”

The Longhorns’ stunning 23-6 victory erased all the skepticism about their young quarterback and gave fans enough reasons for celebration. “It’s easy to succumb to the outside noise. And there was a lot of s— getting talked about our team, and I think they responded… We saw the true character of the men in that locker room today, their connectivity, their love for one another,” said Sarkisian.

Manning ended with excellent stats: 21-of-27 for 166 yards, a score, and some key rushing yards, but more importantly, he showed leadership and ability to deliver under pressure.