Twenty points separated No. 4 Texas from No. 1 Ohio State with the third quarter still live in Austin on Saturday night, and the Longhorns erased all of it. The score read 23-3 at its widest. Ohio State had held Texas to 97 yards of total offense through the first 30 minutes, and Arch Manning had little going his way until the fourth quarter turned everything around.
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Halftime score | Ohio State 20, Texas 3 |
| Peak deficit | 20 points (23-3) |
| Texas first-half yards | 97 |
| Texas 2025 roster spend | ~$40 million |
The game opened on a Texas fumble, the first offensive snap. Ohio State never relinquished the lead from there. Julian Sayin found Jeremiah Smith consistently through the air, with Smith's 48-yard sideline catch at the 8:55 mark of the third quarter extending the Buckeyes' advantage. Smith was the story for three quarters, making Texas's secondary look inept nearly every time Sayin looked his way.
Where Ohio State's lead came apart
The Buckeyes stopped converting in the second half as Texas's defense steadied. Manning began moving the ball. A touchdown near the start of the fourth quarter gave the Austin crowd the opening it needed, and the Longhorns, with Cam Coleman and Trey Wingo among the offensive contributors who had gone quiet for three quarters, kept pressing a worn Ohio State defense until the deficit disappeared.
Steve Sarkisian, speaking postgame, said the comeback should teach his team it can come back from a lot and that more adversity is coming. The Texas head coach had been under pressure to win a heavyweight game at home. Saturday answered that.
Texas entered the rematch having spent around $40 million on its roster this season, placing the program among college football's largest spenders alongside Ohio State. For three quarters, that spend had produced 97 yards and a 20-point hole. The fourth quarter settled the account.
Manning finished his postgame ESPN interview, then ran to the Texas student section. He put on a cowboy hat and sang with teammates. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey visited the Texas locker room after the final whistle. Athletic director Chris Del Conte was there to meet him.