Arch Manning and the No. 4 Texas Longhorns just pulled off the biggest regular-season win of the Steve Sarkisian era, stunning the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23 after clawing their way back from a 20-point deficit. This wasn’t some minor upset, this was a jaw-dropping comeback with under 30 seconds left on the clock that will echo across college football.
Ohio State Dominated, Then Collapsed
For a good 40 minutes of this highly-anticipated Week 2 showdown, Texas looked lost. Seriously, they had zero answers for the Buckeyes’ defense, Jeremiah Smith was a problem, and the Longhorns kept shooting themselves in the foot with self-inflicted mistakes. You’re watching it, and you’re thinking, “Is this really the No. 4 team in the country?” Ohio State held a commanding 20-3 lead at halftime, and at one point, Texas was down 23-3. The Buckeyes, a program that rarely blows leads once they grab them, looked like they were going to cruise, cementing their status as the class of college football once again. It felt like a done deal, a typical performance from a top-ranked squad.
Manning and the Ground Game Spark the Fire
But then, something clicked for Sarkisian’s offense. It started slowly, but Manning began to guide Texas down the field in the fourth quarter, orchestrating what became an inevitable comeback. The run game absolutely imposed its will against an Ohio State defensive front that just looked exhausted in the second half. On the flip side, the Texas defense stepped up huge, quieting Julian Sayin to just three second-half points. They chipped away, point by agonizing point, turning a blowout into a nail-biter. The energy shifted, and you could feel the momentum building with every Texas first down. They scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth.
Unreal Finish, Massive Implications
The comeback was complete with under 30 seconds remaining when Smothers plunged in for the touchdown. The PAT was good, making it 24-23. Unreal. Ohio State’s defense, which had been so dominant, completely collapsed in the final hour, unable to stop the run. Sayin’s final pass, a desperate heave deep, was picked off by Texas’ secondary, sealing one of the most stunning top-5 wins in recent college football history. For Ohio State, it’s a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking loss that will send them tumbling from their top spot in the polls. But for Texas? This is HUGE. This massive victory, fueled by Manning’s precision and that overpowering run game, just bought the Longhorns a whole lot more hype this season and immediately positions them as a leader in the College Football Playoff race for weeks to come. Get ready, because the Arch Manning show just started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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