Arch Manning has heard the Heisman talk and the criticism that followed early struggles. Saturday night offered a different chapter. Manning led No. 4 Texas from a 23-3 deficit to a 24-23 win over No. 1 Ohio State, capping the night when Hollywood Smothers scored from a yard out with 25 seconds left in Austin.
Steve Sarkisian told ESPN he was not sure Manning could have managed that finish without the adversity of last season, including a playoff loss to Ohio State and tough nights against lesser opponents. "Arch played like a man tonight," Sarkisian said, pointing to growth that showed up as grit once the first half had gone sideways.
Resume repair in one night
Texas had lost its past two meetings with the Buckeyes: a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl in January 2025 and a 14-7 opener in Columbus last year. Beating the top-ranked team at home, after trailing by 20 in the fourth, changes how the early season resume reads.
Ohio State's path to the postseason got narrower with the loss, the Associated Press noted via CBS Sports, while Texas (2-0) suddenly has a signature result after missing the playoff at 9-3 a year ago.
Sarkisian called the win a barometer for where the program sits. He also told Ryan Day he hoped to see Ohio State again, a nod to how often these rosters may collide in a 12-team playoff era.
The football that produced the flip
Manning did not put up gaudy deep-ball numbers. He completed 11 of his last 15 passes after a rough start that included an early interception. The AP had him at 196 yards; ESPN listed 23-of-37 for 195 with 24 rushing yards. What mattered more were the fourth-down conversions and the three long touchdown drives ESPN Research flagged as unique among recent winners.
Ryan Wingo's touchdown catch started the fourth-quarter climb after a frustrating first half that included a wide-open drop. Smothers finished the job twice from the 1. Connor Hawkins' missed 45-yarder with 4:16 left opened the door Manning said he expected to walk through.
