Arch Manning had a remarkable Saturday night.
While the first half was relatively quiet for him, he played a pivotal role in guiding the No. 4 Longhorns to a thrilling 24-23 comeback victory over the top-ranked Ohio State in Austin, Texas. He finished the game with 196 yards passing, along with one touchdown and an interception.
Initially, Texas struggled offensively as the Buckeyes surged to a 23-3 lead midway through the third quarter.
In the first quarter, Longhorns wide receiver Cam Coleman missed an opportunity for a deep catch from Manning, leading to an interception by Ohio State’s Jaylen McClain.
Later, in the second quarter, Manning attempted to connect with Ryan Wingo in Ohio State’s territory for what could have been a touchdown, but it was dropped.
The Buckeyes extended their advantage to 20 with a field goal in the third quarter.
And then Texas began their comeback.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Manning successfully threw a touchdown to Wingo.
Texas running back Hollywood Smothers, who led the team with 74 rushing yards, scored another touchdown midway through the fourth, narrowing Ohio State’s lead to six.
Manning’s combination of running and passing earned several key first downs, as the Longhorns fought back to defeat the Buckeyes for the first time in three seasons. He completed 11 of his last 15 passes.
After the game, Manning expressed confidence, saying, “We just had to get something going. I always knew we would be in it in the end. I’m so glad we won.”
Ohio State had an opportunity to extend their lead to nine points late in the fourth quarter, but Connor Hawkins, who had successfully made three field goals earlier, missed a 45-yarder, providing Texas a chance to flip the game, which Manning capitalized on.
Manning remarked, “When that happened, I knew it was our time. 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.”
Next week, Texas will play against Texas-San Antonio after an impressive drive against a fatigued Buckeyes defense, culminating in Smothers scoring to tie the game with under a minute left.
Kicker Gianni Spetic converted the extra point, giving Texas their first lead.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day reflected, “I felt we had them on the ropes and didn’t finish. We need to figure out why that happened.”
This comeback victory could potentially elevate Texas’ status to No. 1.
This win is significant for coach Steve Sarkisian, marking one of the biggest regular-season victories in six years and for Manning, who has been striving to meet Heisman Trophy expectations early in his career.
Sarkisian praised the team, saying, “I couldn’t be more proud of our team with the heart, the desire, and the fight.”
The Longhorns’ defense held strong against Ohio State—who will seek redemption next week against Kent State—during the final moments of the game, allowing Texas to improve to 2-0 for the season.
Manning concluded in an on-field interview, “I was so proud of our guys. It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way to win. That’s what good teams do.”
— with AP
