Never a doubt, right, Texas? Steve Sarkisian gets massive money off back with in | Golden
A Shakespearean Saturday night in Austin turned into a Hollywood ending.
How the hell did Texas football pull that off?
The 24-23 shell-shocker over the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes appeared to have zero chance of happening after the home team fell behind 17 points at the half amid a flurry over turnovers, questionable decision and nonclutch plays by this high-priced offense.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
That dormant running game came to life.
Who had a 21-0 turnaround on their bingo card? Not me, not you and probably not Steve Sarkisian,
The fourth-largest comeback in school history came before 105,044, the third-largest crowd to see a game at DKR and happened on the same field that produced a 56-35 win in 2004 over Oklahoma State after the Horns fell behind 35-7. This was bigger because it came against a team that has had Texas’ number.
Hand it to Arch Manning and Co. for saving Texas’ season with drives of 91, 72 and 73 yards when anything less would have proved fatal.
That’s right, I said it. The season was saved.
“I don’t think we could have played a worst first half,” Steve Sarkisian said. “It was an abysmal first half. We challenged our team to compete. When real adversity strikes, it’s what you have to do.
A second straight early season loss would have crippled this team’s playoff chances, given the six ranked opponents still left on the schedule. But they somehow got it down, thanks in large part to Sark rolling the dice on a fourth down and 6 gamble from his own 32 while down 23-10 with 11;45 left.
Manning connected with Emmett Mosley V and the comeback was on.
This has to go down as the sweetest 2-0 start in program history.
Sweet revenge
The last time the Buckeyes darkened our city, they overwhelmed a green, young quarterback by the name of Colt McCoy making his second career start and left with a 24-7 win on a day when the Texas defense couldn’t stop speedy wideouts Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez.
Texas gave up its No. 1 ranking that 2006 day to the team that went on to lose to No. 2 Florida in the championship game.
This isn’t complete revenge from the 2024-25 national semifinals but Texas will take it.
It’s amazing how the Longhorns overcame, given the competition.
The nightmare first half featured a you-had-to-see-it-to-believe feel. Running back Raleek Brown fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Cam Coleman’s diving attempt at a slightly overcooked Manning deep ball ended up in an interception. Ryan Wingo, who spent the offseason getting cozy with a JUGS machine, dropped a sure touchdown.
And Buckeye wideout Jeremiah Smith, who had only 46 yards receiving in the previous two meetings against Texas, looked like a combination of Cris Carter, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Horns had no answer for him. Add an ill-advised end-around handoff to Ryan Wingo on a fourth-and-2 play and it all added up to a 20-3 halftime deficit.
They didn’t quit when lesser teams would have mailed it in and that has a lot to do with the coaching staff and the team leadership. I’m not sure I’ve seen a Texas team play so poorly for three quarters and still come out in top in such a big game.
What a moment.
This article originally published at Never a doubt, right, Texas? Steve Sarkisian gets massive money off back with in | Golden.
