The Line
| Completions / attempts | 23 of 37 (62.2 percent) |
|---|---|
| Passing yards | 196 |
| Touchdowns | 1 (3 yards to Ryan Wingo) |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Fourth quarter | 8 of 11 |
| Result | Texas 24, Ohio State 23 |
Three Quarters of Nothing
Manning struggled for most of the night. Texas managed a single field goal through three quarters, the offense was booed by a crowd of 105,044, and the Longhorns went into the fourth trailing 23-3. His first three quarters produced 15 completions and not much else.
The Fourth Quarter
Then he went 8 of 11 and Texas scored 21 unanswered points.
The rally started with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo that made it 23-10. Hollywood Smothers ran in from a yard out with 7:14 left to cut it to 23-17. Ohio State drove for what would have been a clinching field goal, but Connor Hawkins missed from 45 yards after making three earlier. Texas then went 73 yards in 12 plays and Smothers scored again from a yard out with 25 seconds to play.
The Two Throws That Mattered
Both came on fourth down, and neither was long.
With 2:21 left in the third quarter, Texas went for it on fourth and 9 from its own 42. Manning found tight end Emaree Winston for 9 yards and the first down.
With 11:45 left in the game and the score 23-10, Texas faced fourth and 6 from its own 32 and went again. Manning hit Emmett Mosley V for 12. Nine plays later Smothers scored.
What It Was Worth
The 20-point fourth-quarter comeback is the largest ever to beat an AP No. 1 team, according to Sportradar. It was also Ryan Day’s first loss at Ohio State when leading by at least 20 points, and Texas’ biggest comeback in 19 years.
For Manning personally it settles something. He started the 14-7 loss to Ohio State that opened last season, going 17 of 30 for 170 yards. “I had nightmares about our game last year,” he said afterward.
The Other Side
Julian Sayin threw for 278 yards and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, but Ohio State produced one field goal after halftime. Sayin’s final throw was intercepted as time expired.
Season Stats
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Related
Arch Manning season stats · Record as a starter · Heisman odds · Texas football score
The Bottom Line
Manning finished 23 of 37 for 196 yards with a touchdown and an interception, numbers that look ordinary until you split them. Three quarters of struggle, then 8 of 11 and two fourth-down conversions in a 21-point fourth quarter that beat the No. 1 team in the country.