Manning threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in his final game for Ole Miss, leading the No. 16 Rebels to a 31-28 victory over No. 21 Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday.
“Everything about this year has been great. It’s been a great run. It’s been a fun ride,” said Manning, who completed 22 of 31 passes. “It has to end sometime. We picked a great way to end it.”
Manning threw for 3,600 yards and 29 touchdowns this season, led the Rebels to their first 10-win season since 1971. He also led Ole Miss’ first January victory since the 1970 Sugar Bowl when his father, Archie, threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score in a 27-22 win over Arkansas.
“This raises the bar for us,” coach David Cutcliffe said.
Still, he finished with a school-record 10,119 yards, becoming only the fifth Southeastern Conference passer with 10,000 yards. That is 1,082 less than the SEC record held by older brother Peyton Manning.
Manning’s 1-yard keeper with 12:32 left capped a 13-play, 97-yard drive, and a streak of 24 straight points by Ole Miss which provided just enough to overcome the Cowboys (9-4).
“I just sat there watching him, thinking Eli Manning is a bad boy,” said Oklahoma State receiver Rashaun Woods, who set Cotton Bowl records with 11 catches for 223 yards.
