Arch Manning dragged the Texas Longhorns back from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, sealing an epic 24-23 victory that has the college football world buzzing. That’s how you make a statement in Week 2. Manning told ESPN he had “nightmares” about last year’s 14-7 loss in Columbus, but Saturday, he rewrote the script in the most dramatic way possible.
Michigan’s Nasty Defense Shakes Up the Top 10
What a wild swing for Michigan! Last week they needed “game-clock malpractice” and a Hail Mary to survive Western Michigan. Seven days later, the Wolverines brought a nasty defensive effort, fought through costly penalties, and rolled to a 17-10 win over No. 11 Oklahoma in the Big House. Remember when Kyle Whittingham questioned Bryce Underwood’s starter status? Well, after Underwood, mostly with his feet, led them past OU, Whittingham made it crystal clear: “Bryce is our quarterback.” That kind of turnaround, and beating a ranked team early, catapults Michigan right into the Top 10. They earned it. Elsewhere, Texas A&M absolutely spanked Arizona State, and Oregon’s stunning loss at Oklahoma State sent the Ducks packing from the rankings. This ranking system rewards tough early opponents, making for an unusual group right now. But that’s what we love, right?
No Ceiling For Texas, But Ohio State’s Run Game Flopped
The Longhorns’ ceiling this season? Maybe there isn’t one. If Arch Manning can engineer game-changing plays, throwing for 196 yards and sparking a 21-point final quarter to storm back against the top team, they can win it all. That’s huge. Meanwhile, for the Buckeyes, that loss has to sting, blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter. They scheduled tough and played in a hostile, hot Austin environment, so credit where it’s due. Julian Sayin had an incredible first half, racking up 278 yards passing, and Jeremiah Smith is still a beast with 164 yards receiving. Plenty of positives here. But Matt Patricia’s defense collapsed late, and the running game? It straight-up flopped. They’ve got work to do there. Down in Miami, Darian Mensah’s opening start is still remarkable: 41 of 45 passing against Stanford and Florida A&M. That’s efficiency.
So, what’s next for these guys? Texas hosts UTSA, looking to build on that insane comeback. Ohio State gets Kent State, and they need to bounce back, especially with that running game. Miami heads to Wake Forest on Friday, eager to show that Mensah’s early-season numbers are no fluke. This early college football season is already delivering the kind of drama that keeps you glued to the screen, and I’m here for every single second of it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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