Ohio State was sitting pretty, up 23-3 heading into the fourth quarter against Texas on Saturday. But if you thought that game was over, you were dead wrong. The Buckeyes absolutely crumbled, letting Texas storm back with 20 unanswered points to pull off a massive comeback in front of their home crowd in Austin. In the span of just one quarter, the college football season was likely altered, with the Longhorns’ imposing run game and key defensive stops in the fourth frame pushing them to the top of the polls. Texas just stunned the No. 1 team in the country and is now a title favorite.
Manning Finally Breaks Through
For three quarters, Arch Manning looked totally thrown off by Ohio State’s defense, just like last year. His wide receivers were battling drops and ball security issues, and the star quarterback couldn’t find any openings in that Buckeyes secondary. But things started to shift right at the end of the third quarter when Manning used his legs to scramble the Longhorns down to the Ohio State five-yard line. Then, just two plays into the fourth, Manning finally connected with Ryan Wingo on a short touchdown pass in the left half of the end zone. That perfectly placed pass finally ended the Longhorns’ streak without a touchdown and cut the deficit to a manageable 13 points. You could feel the energy change right then and there.
Defense Locks Down While The Offense Burns Rubber
Texas’s defense absolutely deserves massive credit for this comeback, too. After that Wingo touchdown, they immediately silenced Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State tried two short runs and Sayin had an incompletion to Smith, which Rett Andersen broke up, forcing a punt. That was Ohio State’s fourth three-and-out of the second half. The momentum was fully flipping. Then, Texas went on a monster 14-play drive, eating up clock over a five-minute span. It was absolutely scorching in Austin that night, with ESPN showing 163 degrees on the field before the game, and Ohio State’s defensive front looked completely gassed. Steve Sarkisian smartly leaned into it, calling eight running plays, with Hollywood Smothers continually finding gaps for short pickups. Manning was also strategically picking apart the secondary and still using his legs when needed. The drive was capped off with a Smothers touchdown, shrinking the gap to just six points.
What a wild finish! That comeback wasn’t just a win; it was a massive statement. Texas just vaulted themselves into the national title conversation, likely becoming one of the top favorites after stunning the No. 1 team in the country. This team is for real, and the college football world just got put on notice. Get ready, because the Longhorns are back and coming for everything!
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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