AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning delivered the signature performance Texas hoped would come with time, leading the Longhorns from a daunting deficit to a 24-23 victory over No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night.
Late-game resilience turns the tide
Texas trailed by 20 points early in the fourth quarter and faced a 23-3 deficit late in the third, but the Longhorns mounted a dramatic reversal, scoring 21 unanswered points in the final period to take the win. The comeback — a 20-point fourth-quarter turnaround — is the largest fourth-quarter rally to defeat an AP No. 1 opponent, according to Sportradar.
Manning sparked the rally with a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo and used his mobility to extend plays and sustain drives as the Longhorns offense found traction. The veteran quarterback completed 11 of his final 15 passes and directed three scoring drives of 12 plays or longer during the comeback.
“His grit started it,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “When he comes back, everybody else comes back. That’s a guy who has some grit, some resilience.”
How the game unfolded
The night began poorly for the Longhorns. Manning’s first completion was lost on a fumble, and a subsequent long throw resulted in an interception that set up Ohio State’s early scoring and a 10-0 lead. By halftime, the Buckeyes had pushed a 20-3 advantage, and momentum appeared to belong to the visitors.
Texas’ turning point came in the third quarter when Manning absorbed a heavy hit on the sideline during a scramble. The play seemed to galvanize the offense; from that moment Manning and the Longhorns consistently moved the ball, converting extended drives into points when it mattered most.
The decisive moment arrived with a short touchdown run by Hollywood Smothers with 25 seconds remaining, giving Texas its first lead since early in the game. Ohio State received the ball back, and quarterback Julian Sayin had just enough time for two plays before the clock ran out.
Individual performances and context
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith turned in a strong receiving night, finishing with eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown — a performance that kept the Buckeyes competitive through the first half. But Smith’s production could not offset Ohio State’s inability to score in the final 30 minutes.
The game offered a broader narrative for Manning, who faced intense scrutiny during his first season as the full-time starter. Texas began last season ranked No. 1, lost at Ohio State and sputtered to a 3-2 start that cost the team a spot in the polls. Coaching staff and teammates regularly cited last September’s challenges as formative for Manning’s development.
Sarkisian credited Manning’s offseason growth and ability to weather criticism as a factor in Saturday’s comeback. The coach framed Manning’s late-game composure as contagious: when Manning steadied, the rest of the offense followed.
What this means for Texas
The victory has immediate and symbolic significance for Texas’ national standing and for the program’s confidence. Beating the top-ranked team on a national stage provides a marquee win that may influence upcoming polls and perceptions of the Longhorns’ championship potential.
- Final score: Texas 24, Ohio State 23
- Fourth-quarter comeback: 20 points — largest versus an AP No. 1 team (Sportradar)
- Clutch play: Hollywood Smothers’ game-winning run with 25 seconds left
| Stat | Notable figure |
|---|---|
| Manning (late-game performance) | 11 of final 15 passes completed |
| Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) | 8 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD |
| Game-clinching play | Hollywood Smothers — TD run, 25 seconds left |
For Texas fans, the victory is a statement: a team that stumbled last season has shown the capacity to respond to pressure and convert high-stakes opportunities. For Manning, the comeback provides a defining primetime moment that could reshape narratives about his trajectory as a program leader.
Texas will return to its schedule with renewed attention on how the Longhorns build from this game — and whether Manning can sustain the level of execution displayed in the final quarter against one of the nation’s elite opponents.
