5 things we learned from Ohio State football's loss at Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – Here are five things we learned from No. 1 Ohio State’s 24-23 loss at No. 3 Texas on Sept. 12:

The Buckeyes are now in a more precarious position to make the College Football Playoff.

The stunning loss is hardly a death blow for their postseason fate, but it leaves them on thinner ice as they navigate a daunting schedule.

There are five more ranked opponents left to play during the regular season, including three on the road. During a particularly difficult four-week midseason span that begins in October, they’ll visit Indiana and USC, then host Oregon.

The Buckeyes made the playoff and went on a national title run two years ago after going 10-2 in the regular season, but no 9-3 team has made the playoff in the first two years of the 12-team format.

Perhaps strength of schedule would make Ohio State a unique case in the selection committee’s evaluation if it suffered such a finish. However, if the precedent holds, then the Buckeyes are left with a rather difficult path to navigate over the next two and a half months.

Before an all-time fourth-quarter collapse, they had a chance to add an early signature win. Instead, if Ohio State is to feel safe about a third straight playoff berth, it will need to win nine of its next 10 games.

The Longhorns held Smith to just seven catches for 46 yards in the teams’ previous two meetings, but in Week 2 of the 2026 season, he was a dominant presence who looked like the best player in college football as the Buckeyes built their 23-3 lead.

Quarterback Julian Sayin targeted Smith 15 times, and Smith finished with eight catches for 164 yards and one touchdown. His scoring haul came just before halftime when he pulled in a catch while sandwiched between two defensive backs and absorbing a hit from safety Jelani McDonald.

The rest of the Buckeyes’ wide receivers combined for only two catches for 24 yards. Their only notable grab was Brandon Inniss’ 19-yard reception on a third-and-long conversion in the second quarter.

Devin McCuin, the UTSA transfer who made a splashy debut against Ball State with six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, had one of those receptions for just 5 yards.

The Buckeyes appear to have depth at the position. The rotation against Texas involved six receivers, but there isn’t an obvious weapon able to ease the burden on Smith, who seemed gassed down the stretch. Smith’s last reception was midway through the third quarter.

When the Buckeyes won their nonconference game over Texas last season, their defensive front seven proved the difference.

They made a critical goal-line stand during the 14-7 victory and disrupted Arch Manning, the Longhorns’ ballyhooed quarterback who was under duress on 41.2% of his dropbacks in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus.

But Manning wasn’t as affected in their rematch. He was under pressure on just 25% of his dropbacks, per PFF.

The Buckeyes were unable to sack him during the second half as he orchestrated three straight touchdown drives in the comeback.

Manning’s experience made an impact. He is in his second year as Texas’ starting quarterback and is less likely to be rattled by the pass rush.

Yet the fourth quarter also laid bare the absence of the core of defensive linemen and linebackers that Ohio State lost to the NFL during the offseason. They’re no longer around to bring heat.

The Buckeyes found trouble again in the red zone.

The issues kept the Buckeyes from putting away Texas, leaving the door wide open for the Longhorns to come from behind during the second half.

Ohio State’s first four trips inside the Longhorns’ 20-yard line resulted in only 13 points. The stretch saw the Buckeyes twice settle for field goals. Another drive ended with a turnover on downs when running back Ja’Kobi Jackson was stopped short of the marker on a carry on fourth-and-2.

It was especially costly as the Buckeyes had benefited from favorable field position, including two drives starting on Texas’ side of the 50. Their first began as deep as Texas’ 18-yard line after nickel back Jay Timmons forced and recovered a fumble.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day pointed to a mix of issues for hampering them in the red zone, including an inability to run the ball.

When the Buckeyes reached the 4-yard line on their first possession, running back Bo Jackson took a handoff outside that ran into a sea of defenders and turned into a loss of 9 yards. They would end up with a field goal.

“Certainly when you’re down there,” Day said, “you have to run the ball consistently.”

Connor Hawkins transferred from Baylor to Ohio State with a proven track record.

He had made a 53-yard game-winning kick against Kansas State as a redshirt freshman last season, as well as two others from a distance of at least 50 yards.

But in his first high-stakes attempt for the Buckeyes, he shanked a 45-yard field goal, sending it wide left.

The kick would have pushed Ohio State ahead of Texas by a score of 26-17 with 4:16 left, but instead kept the Longhorns within a touchdown.

While Hawkins had drilled his first three attempts, including a 48-yarder in the third quarter, it was a rude reminder that Ohio State’s kicking concerns remain unresolved.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 things we learned from Ohio State football’s loss at Texas