Smothers' Late Runs Seal 24-23 Texas Win Over Ohio State

Decisive Fourth-Quarter Surge

The final whistle confirmed a stunning result at Texas Memorial Stadium, where the No. 4 Texas Longhorns defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23. The decisive factor was a frantic fourth-quarter rally by the home team, which erased a 20-point deficit to secure the victory.

Hollywood Smothers provided the spark with two rushing touchdowns in the final period, driving the ball downfield to put Texas ahead for good. The win improved the Longhorns’ record to 2-0, while the Buckeyes fell to 1-1.

Early Buckeyes Dominance

Ohio State controlled the first half, building a substantial lead before the break. Connor Hawkins kicked a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter to give the visitors an early 3-0 advantage. Ja'Kobi Jackson then capitalized on a rushing opportunity, crossing the goal line from eight yards out to extend the lead to 10-0 after the extra point.

Texas responded in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal from Gianni Spetic, cutting the deficit to 10-3. However, Hawkins restored the gap with a 30-yard field goal, and Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith on a 19-yard pass to make it 20-3. Hawkins added a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter, putting Ohio State up 23-3 heading into the final stanza.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

The score progression highlights the disparity between the halves. Ohio State scored 10 points in the first quarter and another 10 in the second, establishing a commanding 20-3 lead after two quarters. They added three points in the third quarter to reach 23.

Texas managed only three points in the second half's first two quarters, leaving them trailing 23-3 entering the fourth. The fourth quarter saw Texas outscore Ohio State 21-0, a dramatic shift in momentum that defined the game's conclusion.

Key Statistical Performances

Arch Manning completed 23 of 37 passes for 195 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Hollywood Smothers was the offensive engine on the ground, rushing for 74 yards on 21 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Emmett Mosley V contributed 65 receiving yards on five catches.

For Ohio State, Julian Sayin passed for 278 yards on 17 of 32 attempts, with one touchdown and one interception. Bo Jackson rushed for 74 yards on 19 carries, while Jeremiah Smith hauled in eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. The game drew a crowd of 105,044 fans to the venue in Austin, Texas.

Sources

ESPN