Texas Completes Incredible Comeback to Shock Ohio State

The Texas Longhorns delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in program history Saturday night, rallying from a 20-point deficit to defeat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Texas entered the game ranked No. 4 in the country, while Ohio State came in as the nation's No. 1 team. What looked like a comfortable Buckeyes victory for most of the night turned into a stunning finish as the Longhorns scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

Ohio State controlled the game early. The Buckeyes built a 20-3 halftime lead behind quarterback Julian Sayin and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sayin threw for 278 yards, while Smith finished with eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown.

Texas struggled to find its rhythm during the opening three quarters. Quarterback Arch Manning had difficulty against the Ohio State defense, but the Longhorns refused to let the deficit end their night.

Down 23-3 entering the fourth quarter, Texas finally found the spark it needed.

Manning led a long scoring drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo. The Longhorn defense then continued to give the offense opportunities, setting the stage for an incredible final quarter.

Manning settled down when Texas needed him most, finishing the night with 196 passing yards and a touchdown. He also directed three fourth-quarter touchdown drives as the Longhorns completely changed the momentum of the game.

Running back Hollywood Smothers became one of the biggest stars of the comeback. Smothers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the game-winning 1-yard touchdown with just 25 seconds remaining.

After the touchdown, Texas took its first lead of the night, 24-23.

Ohio State still had an opportunity to answer. The Buckeyes drove into position for a potential game-winning field goal, but Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard attempt. Texas then got one final chance to close out the victory.

The Buckeyes' final possession ended when Texas defensive back Graceson Littleton intercepted a deep pass intended for Jeremiah Smith, officially sealing the comeback.

The victory was particularly significant for Texas after Ohio State had defeated the Longhorns in their previous two meetings. It also gave Texas its first win over the No. 1 team in the country in this matchup and improved the Longhorns to 2-0 on the season, while Ohio State fell to 1-1.

For three quarters, Ohio State looked like the team in complete control. But Texas showed tremendous resilience when the game mattered most.

The Longhorns' fourth-quarter explosion turned what appeared to be a Buckeyes statement win into one of the biggest comebacks of the early 2026 college football season.

Texas now moves forward with enormous momentum, while Ohio State will look to regroup after letting a 20-point lead slip away in the final quarter.