Texas vs Ohio State report card: Arch Manning, Longhorns get mixed marks in comeback win

Everyone knows Texas football has the talent. In Saturday’s thrilling 24-23 win over No. 1 Ohio State, the Longhorns proved they have the toughness.

Texas (2-0) rallied from a 20-point deficit with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter at Royal-Memorial Stadium to finally beat the Buckeyes (1-1). The No. 4 Longhorns had lost to Ohio State in each of the two previous seasons, which made the comeback win especially gratifying for a program desperate for a signature win.

Here’s how the Longhorns graded out in a 24-23 win over Texas State.

Arch Manning certainly wasn’t perfect while throwing for 196 yards on 23-of-37 passing, but his patience – and some clutch fourth-down throws – keyed the rally. Manning stayed poised when it mattered most, and he used his legs just enough to keep three long touchdown drives alive in the fourth quarter.

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Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Connor Robertson (62) celebrates with Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) after winning against the Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23 at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, Sept. 12, 2026. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman)

Hollywood Smothers seems to have taken over as the lead back with 21 carries for 74 yards, but he proved more efficient than explosive against an always-tough Buckeye defense. Raleek Brown added 54 yards rushing on 10 carries but did commit a costly turnover on the Longhorns’ first drive when he lost a fumble.

Auburn transfer Cam Coleman bobbled a deep ball before popping it up into the air for a bizarre interception, and Ryan Wingo dropped what should have been a touchdown in the first half. But Emmett Mosley V salvaged a rough outing for the unit with a team-high five catches for 67 yards, including a clutch fourth-down grab in the fourth quarter. Tight end Emaree Winston also made a big impact with three catches for 38 yards

Texas only amassed 336 yards, but the line helped wear down a weary Ohio State defense. The Longhorns had 25 first downs and ran 78 plays, and Manning had plenty of time to scan the field during the fourth-quarter rally. Left tackle Trevor Goosby proved particularly dominant in pass protection.

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Actors Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey attend the Texas Longhorns game against Ohio State at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)

The unit got pushed around in the first half but eventually slowed an Ohio State ground game that only averaged 3 yards a carry. Buckeye quarterback Julian Sayin enjoyed good protection from a veteran offensive line even though edges Lance Jackson and Colin Simmons each racked up one sack.

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Texas Longhorns’ linebacker Justin Cryer (28) celebrates a play as the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes face off at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)

Rasheem Biles didn’t make the impact plays like he did against Texas State in last week’s opener, but Justin Cryer picked up some of the slack with a team-high nine tackles and a couple of quarterback hits. Biles still managed a team-high six solo stops and remains a sideline-to-sideline force.

The secondary got toasted early and often by Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had 164 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. But the defensive backs got stickier as the game wore on. Cornerback Bo Mascoe had a couple of crucial pass breakups in the second half, and Graceson Littleton sealed the game with an interception – the Longhorns’ only takeaway – on the last play of the game.

Kicker Gianni Spetic made perhaps the most clutch extra point in program history after Smothers tied the game with a 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left on the clock. Spetic also made his only field-goal attempt, which came from 37 yards. Punter Mac Chiumento averaged 40.7 yards on his three punts, and the return game remains pedestrian.

Steve Sarkisian got cute with a couple of play calls, especially one on fourth down that resulted in a loss on an end around by Wingo in the first half. But the Longhorns did convert nine of their 16 third-down plays and two of their three fourth-down attempts. They also scored on all four trips into the red zone, an area that has plagued Sarkisian and the offense in recent years. But defensive coordinator Will Muschamp had no answer for Smith after the Longhorns had held the star wideout in check both 2024 and 2025.