Texas Stuns No. 1 Ohio State 24-23

Fourth-ranked Texas beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday after trailing 23-3 entering the fourth quarter, a 20-point deficit the Longhorns wiped out with three long scoring drives led by quarterback Arch Manning. Texas outscored the Buckeyes 21-0 in the final period.

Hollywood Smothers finished the decisive drive with a 1-yard leap into the end zone with 25 seconds remaining. The Associated Press reported the result ranks among the biggest fourth-quarter comebacks against a No. 1 team in college football history, and CBS Sports noted it was the fourth-largest comeback in Texas program history.

The first three quarters belonged to Ohio State. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 75 percent of his passes for 192 yards and a touchdown in the first half, per CBS Sports. But the Buckeyes' offense stalled after building the 20-point lead. Sayin completed 6 of 16 attempts for 86 yards after halftime, and Ohio State managed only 94 rushing yards on 31 carries for the game. After a Connor Hawkins field goal with 8:09 left in the third quarter, the Buckeyes' next two drives consumed just 2:35 of clock, giving Texas the possessions it needed to rally.

The context

Texas entered the game ranked No. 4 and spent most of the afternoon in trouble. CBS Sports described the first half as going about as poorly as possible for Manning and the Texas offense, which had scored just three points through three quarters. Ohio State, meanwhile, squandered early scoring chances near the goal line: a nine-yard loss at the Texas 4-yard line in the first quarter and a failed fourth-and-2 at the Texas 13 in the second, according to the CBS Sports breakdown. The Longhorns' front seven limited Ohio State's ground game throughout, with Bo Jackson's 11-yard carry standing as the Buckeyes' longest run. That inability to run left Ohio State dependent on its passing game to protect the lead, and Sayin's second-half accuracy dropped sharply. CBS Sports said the outcome reflected both an Ohio State collapse and a Texas surge, with some criticism likely for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's conservative second-half play-calling.

Why it matters

The upset removes the No. 1 team's unbeaten claim and reshapes the College Football Playoff race, with the development summary indicating Texas is likely to move to No. 1. It also marks a signature performance for Manning, who directed three extended scoring drives with the game on the line after a difficult first half. For Ohio State, the loss raises questions about the offense's ability to close out games, particularly a running attack that averaged roughly three yards per carry and could not drain the clock with a 20-point lead.

What’s next

New rankings will show whether Texas takes over the No. 1 spot, as the summary suggests is likely, and how far Ohio State falls. The material does not say how many games remain for either team or what their remaining schedules look like. Watch for whether Ohio State adjusts its run game and play-calling, both flagged by CBS Sports as factors in the collapse, and how playoff projections shift in the coming week.