AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning delivered a moment, and it was a big one for Texas and himself.
The Longhorns quarterback led No. 4 Texas back from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night.
Using his legs to keep drives going and his right arm to start the rally with a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo, Manning delivered the kind of primetime performance that could redefine his career to date and propel the program's national championship hopes.
“His grit started it,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.
Grit that earned a piece of history. The Longhorns’ 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter is the largest fourth-quarter rally to win against an AP No. 1 team, according to Sportradar.
Grit born out of the adversity of last season's failures. Texas started last season No. 1, lost at Ohio State and was soon unranked after a 3-2 start. Manning was the lightning rod for criticism because of erratic play in his first season as the full-time starter.
“Last September was a hard month for him,” Sarkisian said. "I think him getting through the adversity of last year helped him get through the adversity of tonight.
“When he comes back, everybody else comes back,” Sarkisian said, “That’s a guy who has some grit, some resilience.”
Saturday night looked like last season's version of Manning and the Longhorns at the start. His first pass was a completion that was fumbled away. Four plays later, a long throw turned into a fluke interception that set up Ohio State's first touchdown and a 10-0 Buckeyes lead.
Nothing was working until Texas was backed up near its own end zone in the third quarter and losing 23-3. Manning took a big hit on the sideline as he made a desperate scramble.
The hit seemed to wake up the entire offense. He completed 11 of his final 15 passes, directing three scoring drives of 12 plays or longer. Hollywood Smothers finished two of them with short touchdown runs, the last one with just 25 seconds left.
“It was a weird start,” Manning said. "I’m really proud of the way we responded. We could have let that thing go. It’s a testament to our coaches and our culture.”
Manning's final stat line of 23-of-37 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown won't light up a Heisman Trophy ballot. But pulling out the win in a game between two national championship contenders shows how far Manning has come as a competitor.
“We just had to get something going. I always knew we were going to be in it in the end,” Manning said. “I’m so glad we won.”
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) is sacked for a loss by Ohio State defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning and No. 4 Texas stole a 24-23 victory from No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night, rallying from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to win it on Hollywood Smothers’ 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left.
The Longhorns' 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter is the largest fourth-quarter rally to win against an AP No. 1 team, according to Sportradar.
The Buckeyes had appeared in complete control after a dominant three quarters and led 23-3.
But Texas (2-0) rallied behind Manning, whose touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo early in the fourth started the comeback. Smothers scored on a 1-yard run with 7:14 to play before Ohio State (1-1) drove for what could have been a clinching field goal.
Connor Hawkins, who had earlier made three field goals, missed from 45 yards, setting up Texas’ winning drive.
“When that happened, I knew it was our time,” Manning said. “I’m really proud of the way we responded. We could have let that thing go. It’s a testament to our coaches and our culture.”
The gritty win could also give Texas a claim at No. 1.
The victory is arguably the biggest regular-season win in six seasons for coach Steve Sarkisian, and certainly for Manning, who had struggled to live up to Heisman Trophy expectations early in his career.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team with the heart, the desire and the fight,” Sarkisian said.
Manning’s legs and passing earned several first downs as the Longhorns steadily clawed back and beat the Buckeyes for the first time in three tries over the past three seasons. Manning finished with 196 yards passing and completed 11 of his final 15 passes.
“We just had to get something going, I always knew we were going to be in it in the end," Manning said. “I'm so glad we won.”
The Buckeyes lost a game they had controlled.
Julian Sayin passed for 278 yards and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. But the offense produced just a single field goal after halftime, and Sayin’s desperation pass on the final play was intercepted before Texas players rushed on the field to celebrate the comeback.
“I felt, you know, we had them on the ropes and didn’t finish,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "So we got to go back and figure out why that was.”
The matchup was the third time in three seasons the Longhorns and Buckeyes have played, including the playoffs in the 2024 season. They could meet again.
Ohio State's path to the postseason got a little harder with the loss as the Buckeyes' margin for error narrowed. Texas missed the postseason at 9-3 last year, including a loss to Ohio State.
“I told Ryan after the game, I hope to see you again,” Sarkisian said.
Ohio State: Smith was having the kind of game the Buckeyes' All-American had missed in his two previous matchups with the Longhorns. But key passes his way were covered or misfired late as the Longhorns contained him in the second half.
“I had a couple throws that should have been completions," Sayin said.
Texas: The Longhorns were nearly buried by early dropped passes, missed throws and turnovers in what looked like a primetime flop. Wingo's fourth-quarter touchdown catch made up for a wide open drop in a frustrating first half for the Longhorns.
Ohio State hosts Kent State on Sept. 19.
Texas hosts UTSA on Sept. 19.
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Texas running back Hollywood Smothers, top center, dives for the winning touchdown against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas players celebrate their win over Ohio State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
