From OutKick · Trey Wallace · · 2m
Texas erases 20 points, stuns No. 1 Ohio State
Down 23-3 in Austin, the Longhorns pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback that will get replayed for years.
In brief
Down 23-3 in Austin, the Longhorns pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback that will get replayed for years. Texas finally won the game it always used to lose, and that matters more to the program than the score does. Originally reported by OutKick.
A statement in Austin
No. 4 Texas beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night, in one of the wildest college football games in recent memory.
“Well, I don't know if Texas is back, but they darn sure made a statement”
Two heavyweight payrolls
The rematch pitted two of the biggest spenders in the sport against each other. Texas put around $40 million into its roster this season.
It started with a fumble
The first offensive play of the game for Texas was a fumble. Ohio State toyed with the Longhorns from there.
Ugly for three quarters
The Buckeyes led 20-3 at halftime, holding Texas to 97 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes. It looked like a mediocre team wearing burnt orange.
The Jeremiah Smith show
Ohio State's wide receiver made the Texas secondary look inept nearly every time Julian Sayin threw his way, including a 48-yard grab in front of the Longhorns bench.
“How many NFL receivers are better than Jeremiah right now? Maybe five?”
Manning had nothing
Overthrown passes, dropped dimes and odd play calls left Texas trailing 23-3. Arch Manning's night was headed for a letdown.
The fourth quarter flipped it
Ohio State stopped converting, a worn-down Buckeyes team gave ground, and a Texas defense that had been shredded finally rose up in the second half.
Smothers and a spark
Manning's scrambling brought the crowd to its feet late in the third, and a touchdown near the start of the fourth gave the stadium something to believe in.
The monkey comes off
For once the Longhorns won with their backs against the wall, and Steve Sarkisian won a heavyweight fight at home under enormous pressure.
“What it can do is this team can understand that we can overcome adversity”
A field full of joy
Manning sprinted to the student section, took pictures, put on a cowboy hat and sang with teammates. Parents posed with kids on the grass as smoke plumed over the field.
What happens next
A playoff rematch is possible, and nobody knows. For now Texas took the regular-season step its fans had been praying for.
The takeaway
Texas finally won the game it always used to lose, and that matters more to the program than the score does.
