Full Breakdown
Texas Pulls Off 20-Point Fourth-Quarter Comeback to Defeat No. 1 Ohio State, 24-23
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
No. 4 Texas rallied from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 in Austin. Ohio State led 23-3 after three quarters, but Texas narrowed the gap with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Arch Manning to Ryan Wingo, followed by a 1-yard run by Hollywood Smothers with 7:14 left. After Ohio State missed a 45-yard field goal, Texas drove 72 yards, and Smothers broke the plane on third-and-goal with 25 seconds remaining, giving Texas its first lead of the night. An interception on the final play sealed the win.
Background & Context
- Texas had not beaten Ohio State in the previous three meetings and last recorded a 20-point comeback in 2007 against Oklahoma State.
- The Longhorns entered the game 2-0; the Buckeyes were 1-1.
- Prior to the game, the AP No. 1 teams were 197-0 when holding a 20-point fourth-quarter lead since 2004.
Data & Statistics
| Statistic | Texas | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 24 | 23 |
| Fourth-quarter deficit overcome | 20 points | — |
| Passing yards – Arch Manning | 196 (11 of final 15 completions) | 278 (Julian Sayin) |
| Touchdown passes | 1 (to Wingo) | 1 (to Jeremiah Smith) |
| Rushing yards – Hollywood Smothers | 74 on 21 carries (2 TDs) | 94 total rushing yards |
| Field-goal attempts – Connor Hawkins | 2 (45-yard miss, 48-yard make) | — |
| Key receiver yards – Jeremiah Smith | 164 on 8 catches (1 TD) | — |
Official Statements & Responses
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian described the win as the program’s biggest regular-season victory in six seasons and noted that the comeback could give Texas a claim to the No. 1 ranking. Arch Manning said the team “responded” and that the victory reflected the coaches’ influence and the program’s culture. Ohio State’s post-game comments highlighted Jeremiah Smith’s strong performance but acknowledged that late-game execution faltered.
On-the-Ground Reports
The game drew a crowd of over 100,000 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas’ defense forced a turnover early, and the Longhorns’ second-half adjustments limited Ohio State’s ground game while generating key stops that set up the comeback drives.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- ESPN describes the comeback as a 20-point fourth-quarter rally, while Koco characterizes it as a 21-point second-half rally. Both figures refer to the same turnaround but differ in the quarter attribution.
- No source provides a definitive projection of how the win will affect the upcoming AP poll, leaving the exact impact on rankings uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When that happened, I knew it was our time,” — Arch Manning
- “I couldn’t be more proud of our team with the heart, the desire and the fight,” — Steve Sarkisian, seasons for coach
- “We just had to get something going, I always knew we were going to be in it in the end,” — Arch Manning
- “We found a way to win,” — Arch Manning
- “It’s not all the time you get a second chance to play another team after a rough loss,” — Arch Manning