Texas Rallies to Upset Top-Ranked Ohio State 24-23

The fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns completed a 20-point comeback to defeat top-ranked Ohio State 24-23 in Austin, Texas. Driven by three fourth-quarter touchdown drives led by quarterback Arch Manning, Texas overcame a 23-3 second-half deficit before 105,044 spectators at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Early turnovers give Ohio State lead

Ohio State established control early following a series of Texas mistakes. On the first play from scrimmage, Texas running back Raleek Brown fumbled a screen pass, which Ohio State defender Jay Timmons recovered. On the following possession, Manning threw a pass intended for receiver Cam Coleman that bounced off Coleman’s chest and was intercepted by Jaylen McClain at the 12-yard line. Both turnovers led directly to Ohio State scoring drives, granting the Buckeyes a 10-0 lead.

Texas managed five total yards in the first quarter compared to 119 for Ohio State. Late in the second quarter, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian opted to go for a fourth-and-1 misdirection play at the Ohio State 41-yard line, but receiver Ryan Wingo lost 10 yards. Taking over at the Texas 49, Ohio State extended its advantage when quarterback Julian Sayin threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith with 10 seconds remaining in the half, taking a 20-3 lead into halftime.

Texas shifts tactics in second half

Ohio State stretched its lead to 23-3 in the third quarter behind Smith, who logged eight receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown, including 43-yard catches in both the second and third quarters. Following Smith’s final long reception with 9:37 remaining in the third quarter, Texas adjusted its defensive strategy by increasing pressure on Sayin and leaving cornerbacks in direct coverage. Defensive players Justin Cryer and Rett Andersen subsequently broke up third-down pass attempts targeted at Smith, stopping further catches.

Historic fourth-quarter drive sequence

Offensively, Texas shifted to a four-down strategy in the late stages of the game. Manning directed three consecutive scoring drives of 15, 13, and 12 plays. Sarkisian noted after the game that “part of the driving force was kind of his grit” as Manning adjusted to short completions and rushing plays. Running back Hollywood Smothers capped the rally by leaping over the goal line to score the decisive touchdown, giving Texas a 24-23 lead.

Reflecting on the final result, Manning said, “You dream of playing in games like this.” The win represents the largest comeback of Sarkisian’s head coaching career and the second-largest fourth-quarter rally in Texas team history.

Background

American college football features university teams competing across primary divisions, with weekly national rankings determining top contenders. Ohio State entered the matchup ranked No. 1 in the nation, while Texas was ranked No. 4. A top-ranked team had not surrendered a 20-point fourth-quarter lead to lose a game since 2004.