NFL
By: Lamaar Fields
The Texas Longhorns looked dead for three quarters in Saturday night’s showdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Down 23-3 heading into the final quarter, Texas scored a touchdown pass from Arch Manning to Ryan Wingo and two rushing touchdowns from Hollywood Smothers to win 24-23. It was one of the biggest comebacks in Longhorn history.
Turnovers
Two early turnovers helped the Buckeyes jump out to an early lead. On the Longhorns’ first play of the game, running back Raleek Brown fumbled, and Ohio State recovered; later in the quarter, receiver Cam Coleman dropped a pass that Ohio State then intercepted. The turnovers put Texas in a horrid spot. But they stuck with it, overcame them, and won late.
Arch Manning Stepped Up Late in the Game
For three quarters, this looked like another frustrating chapter for Arch Manning against Ohio State. The Longhorns struggled to generate offense. He stepped up big late in the game and finished with 196 passing yards and a touchdown, and more importantly, he made several critical plays during the comeback that kept Texas alive. His touchdown connection with Ryan Wingo early in the fourth quarter finally gave the Longhorns some momentum.
Hollywood Smothers Played a Huge Role
Along with his two 4th-quarter touchdowns, he had 74 yards and 21 carries. Texas did a great job sticking with the run. In total, they ran 41 times for 141 yards. Even after falling behind, Texas stuck with the run.
Defense Got Key Stops
The Longhorns’ defense deserves a lot of credit for the comeback win. Ohio State had controlled the game for most of the night, but Texas suddenly started getting stops when it mattered. The Buckeyes managed only a field goal in the second half and were shut out completely in the fourth quarter.
Justin Cryer led the Longhorns with nine tackles, while Rasheem Biles had eight. Collin Simmons added a sack and two tackles for loss. The Longhorns didn’t need to be perfect. They needed another possession, another stop, and another opportunity.
Bottom Line
This was a huge home win for the Longhorns. Coming back from 20 points down against Ohio State is not easy. The Longhorns were sloppy early. They struggled offensively. Manning wasn’t playing his best football. Yet Texas kept fighting, found a way to get stops, and completely changed the momentum.
