Why we just saw the biggest win in DKR history, and other Texas vs Ohio State observations
Down 23-3 in the fourth quarter. Twenty-one unanswered points – against the No. 1 team in the country. A Heisman Trophy campaign that roared back to life. The return of Texas football‘s running game, redemption for a quarterback and a program, and a huge win over the Buckeyes that has Texas in place to possibly become the new No. 1 team in the country.
Saturday night’s 24-23 thriller had it all.
As bad as Texas’ start was, as bad as things looked at halftime and the third quarter, as unlucky and plodding as the Longhorns looked, all that turned around in the fourth quarter. After surviving what was probably the worst first quarter of the Steve Sarkisian era, No. 4 Texas produced perhaps the biggest win ever at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
Here are some observations we saw from Saturday’s win:
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Here are some observations we saw from Saturday’s win:
Arch Manning etches his name into Texas football history
Texas entered the fourth quarter trailing by 20 points, but pulled off the biggest comeback in program history. Manning has secured his spot in Longhorns lore after ending the game with just 196 yards passing but calmly executing a fourth-quarter rally. It was the third fourth-quarter comeback with Texas trailing in his career.
It also was the biggest comeback in Sarkisian’s career, too.
For the night, Manning was 23 of 37 for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He completed 62% of his passes.
Comeback win could key Texas’ run to No. 1
Texas has the talent. Now, the Longhorns showed their toughness. It’s the type of win that can key a run to the College Football Playoff. And it will certainly get Texas some first-place votes in Monday’s poll. The Longhorns never panicked, to the credit of Sarkisian and his team.
Who’s No. 1? Here’s how the top five teams fared Saturday:
No. 1 Ohio State lost to No. 4 Texas 24-23
No. 2 Georgia beat Western Kentucky 70-20
No. 3 Notre Dame beat Rice 52-0
No. 4 Texas beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23
No. 5 Indiana beat Howard 55-0
Jeremiah Smith looks like the best receiver in the game
Give former Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski credit: His units had some issues, but he knew how to slow down Ohio State All-American Jeremiah Smith. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp couldn’t figure it out; after Smith totaled seven catches for 46 yards in two previous games against Texas, he exploded for 164 yards and a touchdown on eight catches Saturday.
While Texas receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo struggled with drops, Smith proved himself the best receiver on the field.
Next up for Texas: UTSA
7 p.m. next Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium. It’s an SEC Network+ game.
This article originally published at Why we just saw the biggest win in DKR history, and other Texas vs Ohio State observations.
