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09/12 23:23 CDT No. 4 Texas stuns No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 after erasing 20-point
4th-quarter deficit
No. 4 Texas stuns No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 after erasing 20-point 4th-quarter
deficit
By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) --- Arch Manning and No. 4 Texas stole a 24-23 victory from
No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night, rallying from a 20-point fourth-quarter
deficit to win it on Hollywood Smothers' 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds
left.
The Longhorns' 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter is the largest
fourth-quarter rally to win against an AP No. 1 team, according to Sportradar.
The Buckeyes had appeared in complete control after a dominant three quarters
and led 23-3.
But Texas (2-0) rallied behind Manning, whose touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo
early in the fourth started the comeback. Smothers scored on a 1-yard run with
7:14 to play before Ohio State (1-1) drove for what could have been a clinching
field goal.
Connor Hawkins, who had earlier made three field goals, missed from 45 yards,
setting up Texas' winning drive.
"When that happened, I knew it was our time," Manning said. "I'm really proud
of the way we responded. We could have let that thing go. It's a testament to
our coaches and our culture."
The gritty win could also give Texas a claim at No. 1.
The victory is arguably the biggest regular-season win in six seasons for coach
Steve Sarkisian, and certainly for Manning, who had struggled to live up to
Heisman Trophy expectations early in his career.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team with the heart, the desire and the
fight," Sarkisian said.
Manning's legs and passing earned several first downs as the Longhorns steadily
clawed back and beat the Buckeyes for the first time in three tries over the
past three seasons. Manning finished with 196 yards passing and complete 11 of
his final 15 passes.
"We just had to get something going, I always knew we were going to be in it in
the end," Manning said. "I'm so glad we won."
The Buckeyes lost a game they had controlled.
Julian Sayin passed for 278 yards and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for
164 yards and a touchdown. But the offense produced just a single field goal
after halftime, and Sayin's desperation pass on the final play was intercepted
before Texas players rushed on the field to celebrate the comeback.
The takeaway Ohio State: Smith was having the kind of game the Buckeyes' All-American had missed in his two previous matchups with the Longhorns. But key passes his way were covered or misfired late as the Longhorns contained him in the second half. Texas: The Longhorns were nearly buried by early dropped passes, missed throws and turnovers in what looked like a primetime flop. Wingo's fourth-quarter touchdown catch made up for a wide open drop in a frustrating first half for the Longhorns.
Up next Ohio State hosts Kent State on Sept. 19. Texas hosts UTSA on Sept. 19. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
The takeaway Ohio State: Smith was having the kind of game the Buckeyes' All-American had missed in his two previous matchups with the Longhorns. But key passes his way were covered or misfired late as the Longhorns contained him in the second half. Texas: The Longhorns were nearly buried by early dropped passes, missed throws and turnovers in what looked like a primetime flop. Wingo's fourth-quarter touchdown catch made up for a wide open drop in a frustrating first half for the Longhorns.
Up next Ohio State hosts Kent State on Sept. 19. Texas hosts UTSA on Sept. 19. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
