A Fourth-Quarter Surge
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Texas Longhorns completed a remarkable comeback against the Ohio State Buckeyes, winning 24-23 in front of 105,044 fans at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The victory improved Texas’s record to 2-0, while Ohio State fell to 1-1.
The game appeared to be a showcase for the visitors early on. Ohio State jumped out to a commanding lead, scoring ten points in the first quarter and another ten in the second. Connor Hawkins kicked two field goals for the Buckeyes, including a 26-yarder and a 30-yarder, while Ja’Kobi Jackson contributed an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
Jeremiah Smith caught a 19-yard pass from Julian Sayin for another Buckeye score.
Texas struggled to find its footing in the first half, managing only three points when kicker Gianni Spetic connected on a 37-yard field goal. By halftime, Ohio State led 20-3, seemingly in control of the contest. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 23-3 in the third quarter when Hawkins added a 48-yard field goal.
The Turning Point
The momentum shifted dramatically in the fourth quarter. Arch Manning, who finished with 195 passing yards and one touchdown on 23-of-37 passing, led Texas back into contention. His first touchdown pass of the game went to Ryan Wingo on a 3-yard throw, trimming the deficit to 23-10.
Hollywood Smothers then provided the spark for the Longhorns. Smothers finished with 74 rushing yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. His first came on a 1-yard run, making the score 23-17. With time winding down, Smothers delivered again, scoring on another 1-yard rush to give Texas a 24-23 lead.
