Texas Erases 20-Point Deficit to Upset No. 1 Ohio State

Texas mounted a dramatic late comeback to defeat top-ranked Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns erased a 20-point second-half deficit by scoring three consecutive fourth-quarter touchdowns to hand the Buckeyes a historic defeat.

Historic Fourth-Quarter Collapse

Ohio State held a 23-3 lead midway through the third quarter and appeared in control before failing to maintain momentum. The loss marked the first time since 2004 that an AP No. 1 ranked team lost after holding a lead of 20 points or more in the fourth quarter. Prior to Saturday, top-ranked teams had compiled a 197-0 record in such scenarios over the past 22 years.

The defeat also snapped Ohio State’s streak of 115 consecutive victories when leading by 20 points or more, which had stood as the sixth-longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Buckeyes managed just 49 total yards of offense during the fourth quarter. Kicker Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal attempt with slightly over four minutes remaining that would have extended Ohio State’s lead to two scores.

Texas Capitalizes on Extended Drives

Texas began its rally after forcing an Ohio State punt midway through the third quarter. The Longhorns subsequently became the first FBS team in 15 years to complete a win with three consecutive touchdown drives consisting of 12 or more plays.

The winning score came on third-and-goal with 25 seconds remaining, when Texas crossed the line to take its first lead of the night. Ohio State was unable to mount a late response in the remaining time.

Individual Milestones and Team Reactions

The loss overshadowed a performance by Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who recorded 164 receiving yards. At one point in the third quarter, Smith had accumulated more receiving yards individually than the entire Texas team had generated in total offense. Smith reached 2,783 career receiving yards, moving into second place in school history and placing him 116 yards behind school record-holder Michael Jenkins.

After the game, Ohio State coach Ryan Day took responsibility for the performance across all phases, stating, “This one hurts.” Day noted that the team failed to get off the field defensively, struggled to sustain offensive drives, and missed critical opportunities in the second half. Center Carson Hinzman echoed the frustration, stating, “It freaking hurts,” while adding that the team still retains its goals for the remainder of the season.

Background

Ohio State entered the game as the top-ranked team in the Associated Press poll and was seeking a third straight victory against Texas over three seasons. The result marks a major shift in the early-season national championship race and playoff projections.