Texas Shocks No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 in Wild Fourth-Quarter Comeback — And This Time, the Fans Stuck Around
Arch Manning had his moment.
Steve Sarkisian earned that elusive, validating victory against another super heavyweight program. And Texas beat a top-ranked team at home for the first time in 76 years, capping it off with a 21-point fourth-quarter rally that will be replayed in Austin for decades.
Hollywood Smothers dove over the line from a yard out for a touchdown with 25 seconds left, and the fourth-ranked Longhorns stunned No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit in one of the most improbable comebacks in recent college football history.
How It Happened
For three quarters, this looked like a rout. Ohio State built a commanding 23-3 lead behind a defense that had Arch Manning and the Texas offense looking lost.
Buckeyes kicker Connor Hawkins connected on three field goals, and Ja’Kobi Jackson punched in a short touchdown run to put the Longhorns in a deep, deep hole.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
Manning found Ryan Wingo for a touchdown to jumpstart the comeback. Smothers scored his first touchdown of the drive-fest with 7:14 to play to cut the deficit further. Ohio State had a chance to put it away, but Hawkins — perfect on the night up to that point — missed a 45-yard field goal that would have sealed it.
Texas took over, marched down the field, and Smothers leaped over the pile from a yard out with 25 seconds remaining to tie the game. Gianni Spetic’s extra point gave Texas the lead for good, and Ohio State’s desperation final drive ended in an interception as Longhorns players stormed the field in celebration.
“It wasn’t very pretty, but we found a way to win,” Manning told ABC afterward.
Manning finished with 196 yards passing, while Ohio State’s Julian Sayin threw for 278 yards and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a score — but the Buckeyes managed just a single field goal in the second half as their offense stalled at the worst possible time.
The Heat: Round Two
If last week’s season opener against Texas State was a warning sign, Saturday night was Austin’s second consecutive gut-check with dangerous conditions.
A week earlier, the 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Texas State saw temperatures near 102 degrees with a heat index of 105, and Austin-Travis County EMS transported 13 fans to area hospitals, three of those cases possibly heat-related.
This time, University of Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte expanded the school’s hydration efforts, adding to the 19 free “water monsters” stationed around DKR and reminding fans to hydrate for days beforehand rather than waiting until gameday. The stadium again allowed fans to bring in one factory-sealed, one-liter bottle of water.
The move to a 6:30 p.m. kickoff helped, but conditions were still brutal.
ESPN’s Holly Rowe measured the turf at DKR at over 160 degrees nearly two hours before kickoff, with surface temperatures still above 100 as the sun went down. By 4 p.m., ambient temperatures near the stadium hovered around 100 degrees, and one graduate student’s heat stress tracker read as high as 121 degrees in direct sunlight.
Despite that, most fans interviewed near the stadium said the heat wasn’t their primary concern — the outcome of the game was. “Nerves have a huge effect in how the environment’s going, and so I don’t really pay attention to the heat,” one fan told a local news crew. It’s not yet confirmed how many, if any, heat-related medical incidents occurred inside DKR during the Ohio State game, a marked contrast to the headline-grabbing numbers from the Texas State opener.
Did Fans Leave Early?
Given the 20-point, fourth-quarter deficit, it would have been understandable if the sold-out crowd of more than 100,000 started filing out early. But there’s no indication that happened at DKR on Saturday. If anything, the opposite: reports and video from the stadium describe Texas fans storming the field in the thousands the moment the final whistle blew, and the building was still roaring loud enough for ESPN’s broadcast to pick up when Smothers scored the game-tying touchdown. Coming back from 20 down against the No. 1 team in the country, in brutal heat, with fans still in their seats for the finish, only adds to the folklore of the night.
At times, however, fans did indeed seek shelter and shade inside the concourse area.
Fans and outlets alike leaned into celebrity sightings at DKR, with Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Kevin Durant, Glen Powell, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott among those spotted — adding to the “biggest game in Austin in years” atmosphere that built all week on social media ahead of kickoff.
What This Means for Texas Going Forward
This was more than just a marquee non-conference win. It’s a statement victory that could reshape the Longhorns’ season — and Sarkisian’s tenure — in a few important ways:
- A signature win, finally. Texas had dropped its last two meetings with Ohio State, including a lopsided 28-14 loss in last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal and a 14-7 season-opening defeat in Columbus the year before. Beating the Buckeyes at home, from 20 down, erases a lot of that recent history and gives Sarkisian the kind of victory that quiets outside noise about whether Texas can beat the sport’s true heavyweights when it matters.
- Manning’s redemption arc continues. After an uneven start to his career as the full-time starter — including plenty of criticism following underwhelming performances — Manning delivering in the biggest moment of the season, on the road to nowhere (down 20) with the clock bleeding out, is exactly the type of moment that can change a narrative for a quarterback who has been alternately hailed as a savior and picked apart depending on the week.
- Instant Playoff and ranking implications. Beating the reigning No. 1 team at home, especially in this fashion, could vault Texas into the top spot in next week’s polls and gives the Longhorns a marquee résumé win that will matter enormously when the College Football Playoff committee makes its selections in December.
- A gut check for Ohio State. The Buckeyes were in complete control for three quarters and let it slip away, managing only one field goal after halftime. That kind of second-half collapse against a team that could contend for a national title will invite plenty of scrutiny in Columbus, even in September.
- Validation for the roster overhaul. Texas brought in a wave of transfers this offseason — including Smothers, Cam Coleman, and others — specifically built to compete in exactly these kinds of moments. Smothers, a transfer running back who didn’t have a standout statistical night before his heroics, becoming the hero of the game is a small but telling sign the additions are paying off.
It’s one win in September, and Sarkisian and his team both know national championships aren’t decided until January. But for one night, in scorching heat, in front of a crowd that refused to leave early, Texas proved it can slug it out with the best team in the country and come out on top.
Sources:
- ESPN, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, and the AP wire recap of Texas’ 24-23 win
- Austin American-Statesman / Yahoo Sports on DKR field and ambient temperatures
- KXAN Austin on fan sentiment and heat conditions during the Ohio State game
- FOX 7 Austin and SI on the Texas State opener’s heat-related hospital transports
- HEAVY.com on Texas’ expanded hydration measures ahead of the Ohio State game
- On3 and the Austin American-Statesman on the postgame scene, including fans storming the field and celebrity attendance
- Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) on X, via the Austin American-Statesman
A Saturday evening head-on crash on FM 725 in New Braunfels left one driver dead, a toddler injured, and resulted in felony charges for two men, according to the New Braunfels Police Department. (FOX 7 Austin)
A 14-year-old boy was killed Friday in a single-vehicle e-moto crash near Outpost Trace and Thunderbird Street in Lago Vista. The Lago Vista Police Department reported the teen lost control while riding with friends; preliminary investigations show he was not wearing a helmet.
A Lorena Fire Department engine took the brunt of a highway collision early Saturday morning on Interstate 35, protecting first responders who were working a chain of crashes along the roadway.
A domestic disturbance turned into an armed standoff in a Jarrell neighborhood Saturday morning after a man allegedly fired a handgun at his wife and chased her down the street, forcing police to issue a shelter-in-place order for surrounding residents.
Jarrell Police officers responded to a home in the 100 block of Citation Drive around 9:35 a.m. Upon arrival, an officer witnessed a female victim flee the residence while her husband slammed the front door shut.
After locating the victim a few houses away, officers learned that her husband had physically assaulted her, shot at her inside the home, and pursued her on foot down the road while armed.
Because the suspect remained barricaded inside the residence with a firearm, authorities instructed nearby neighbors to shelter in place as law enforcement secured the scene.
Austin Public Health has confirmed the second measles case in Travis County this year, involving an infant who was too young to get vaccinated and was likely exposed while traveling internationally, health officials said.
Ahead of the November election, more than 1.2 million voters sit on Texas’s “suspense” list. Progressive critics call it a Republican-led effort to suppress votes, but state officials counter that those concerns are based on misinformation. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin City Limits Festival 2026: Upcoming Traffic & Parking Closures
The annual Austin City Limits Festival returns the first two weekends of October 2026. Please plan ahead for the following street and parking disruptions in September and October in around Zilker Park:
- Monday, September 14: Parking lot closures begin.
- Monday, September 21: Street closures and traffic impacts begin.
WEATHER
SATURDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A grassland fire Saturday on US 183, before reaching FM 1327.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton endured barbs and roadblocks for his chance in the national spotlight at the Republican midterm convention — and it may not be enough. (Texas Standard)
The race for campaign cash – Daniel Marin breaks down how a recent Supreme Court ruling could reshape campaign fundraising in Texas and potentially give Ken Paxton access to new sources of political support as James Talarico continues to hold a significant fundraising advantage.
This week on Eye on Politics, we recap the RNC’s midterm convention in Dallas, get a wider look at the Texas Senate Race, and reflect on 25 years since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Brandon Waltens talks with Supreme Court of Texas Justice James Sullivan about his background and rise to the state’s highest civil court. They discuss the importance of making legal opinions accessible to real Texans.
(Episode from September 12, 2026)
This week on Texas Matters: Ectopic pregnancy deaths are increasing in Texas. Is there a link to abortion bans? The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee is holding back its report until after the election. What are the concerns? And could ICE agents show up at the polls this coming election? A lawsuit has been filed to try to prevent that.
(Episode from September 11, 2026)
AAA GAS PRICES
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:Hollywood Smothers dove over the line from a yard out for a touchdown with 25 seconds left, and the fourth-ranked Longhorns stunned No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit in one of the most improbable comebacks in recent college football history.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAS A NEW NUMBER ONE TEAM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
TEXAS A&M / TEXAS TECH / HOUSTON
NFL: Texas football takes center stage today as both the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans open their 2026 campaigns against New York opposition.
In Houston, the Texans welcome the Buffalo Bills to NRG Stadium for an afternoon showdown, while nearly 1,500 miles away, the Cowboys touch down in East Rutherford to battle the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Two teams, two very different challenges — but one shared goal: starting the season strong.
MLB: The Texas Rangers cut their AL West deficit to two games after a win last night in Arizona and a Houston Astros loss in Tampa.
Ezequiel Duran had a two-run single and Wyatt Langford hit a solo homer during a six-run fifth inning to lead the Texas Rangers over the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Saturday night to even the three-game series. The Rangers improved to 73-76 and are just two games back of the final American League wild card despite a sub-.500 record. (Associated Press)
Richie Palacios had a two-run single in fifth, Ian Seymour threw six strong innings and Nick Madrigal had a clutch sacrifice fly to help the postseason-bound Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros 3-2 on Saturday night. (Associated Press)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston Astros | 75 | 74 | — |
| 2 | Texas Rangers | 73 | 76 | 2.0 |
| 3 | Seattle Mariners | 70 | 79 | 5.0 |
| 4 | Athletics | 60 | 89 | 15.0 (eliminated) |
| 5 | Los Angeles Angels | 56 | 92 | 18.5 (eliminated) |
It’s a tight race at the top — Houston’s only 2 games up on Texas, with Seattle still lurking 5 back. The A’s and Angels have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
MLS: Soccer, eh?
Austin FC visits Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place tonight, looking for a road result as they try to climb out of the Western Conference basement in the season’s stretch run. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT. (Austin FC)
The larger-than-life and proudly politically incorrect Texas musician, bestselling writer and political candidate Kinky Friedman, who made a career out of shooting from the lip, died on June 27, 2024.
In this “CBS Sunday Morning” profile that aired February 20, 2005, correspondent Lee Cowan talked with Friedman, who fronted the country band The Texas Jewboys, about his campaign for Texas Governor.
Cowan also talked with Texas Monthly columnist Molly Ivins, editor Evan Smith, singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, and former President Bill Clinton about the humorous and quixotic Friedman.
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