Ohio State Loses To Texas 24-23 In A Battle Of Top-5 College Football Teams In Austin

Ohio State is ranked number one in the polls, but Texas is ranked number one in the ESPN Football Power Index. There was a lot of hype about this game between these two top-ranked teams. This is the third time these two teams have met in the last three years. Ohio State lost this game 4-23. This was a close game. However, it was supposed to be. It was very hot, over 100 degrees. It would be a shame if the heat wore down the teams.

This game has many subplots. For instance, Buckeye quarterback Julian Sayin is playing against Longhorn quarterback Arch Manning. Another interesting subplot is that 8 players from Texas are on the Buckeye roster. This game also has several other interesting subplots. Did you think Ohio State would go to Austin and win?

Ohio State and Texas Game Summary September 12

Ohio State was hoping to go into Austin and get a victory. Texas turnovers on their first two drives helped them in their quest. These are two talented rosters, and the game was a treat for college football fans. Here is how the game played out.

In the first quarter, the Buckeyes’ placekicker Connor Hawkins kicked a 27-yard field goal and took a 3-0 lead. It was a bit disappointing that they didn’t score a touchdown after getting the ball with a short field.

Later in the first quarter, Ja’Kobi Jackson scored a touchdown. After the extra point, it was 10-0 Buckeyes. They took the lead on the road and took full advantage of Texas’s second turnover. On this drive, there were a couple of big catches by Jeremiah Smith.

In the second quarter, Gianni Spetic kicked a 37-yard field goal. He is from Ohio. That field goal capped a 16-play drive. The score was 10-3. Ohio State answered with a 30-yard field goal by Connor Hawkins, who is, by the way, from Texas. Ohio State led 13-3.

Right at the end of the first half, Jeremiah Smith caught a 19-yard touchdown pass. With the extra point, Ohio State took a 20-3 lead. That was the score at halftime, as the first half could not have gone better for Ohio State.

In the third quarter, Connor Hawkins kicked a 48-yard field goal. The score was 23-3 for the Buckeyes. However, the Buckeyes wilted in the fourth-quarter heat. In the fourth quarter, Ryan Wingo caught a 3-yard touchdown pass.

With the extra point, the Longhorns drew to within 23-10. Ohio State then went 3-and-out. Texas got the ball back and marched right down the field, and Hollywood Smothers scored a touchdown on a one-yard run. After the extra point, the score was 23-17. A one-score game.

Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal after a good drive. That was a big letdown, and the team now needed its defense to step up. Then Texas drove right down the field and scored a touchdown. Hollywood Smothers, on third and one with 37 seconds left, scored a 1-yard touchdown. Texas led 24-23 after the extra point.

News and Notes

• Ohio State was an underdog in this game, for just the sixth time in the Ryan Day era.
• The Buckeyes wore their away white jerseys. They were Sub Zero Core jerseys.
• Transfer from Alabama, Qua Russaw, was supposed to make his Ohio State debut in this game.
• The Buckeyes wore decals on their Jerseys for the September 11 victims.
• This was a matchup of top-four teams, with Texas being ranked number four.
• This is the third meeting between these two teams in the past three years. After the Buckeyes won the Cotton Bowl 28-14 as part of their 2024 national championship run, then defeated the Longhorns 14-7 a year ago, Ohio State will travel to Austin for Round 3 at Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
• Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, is one of the best venues in college sports. The stadium seats more than 100,000, and it has several great traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio State lost this game between top-4 teams 24-23. The player of the game was Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He was bottled up in the first two games between these teams, but not in this one. He caught 8 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Ohio State plays Kent State next Saturday, while the Longhorns host the University of Texas at San Antonio next Saturday at 9 pm.

Conclusion

This was a close big road loss for Ohio State. It should not hurt them. Texas almost came back on them. The fourth quarter was a hang-on, sloppy moment. This was the first game of a gauntlet for Ohio State, although they get a bit of a reprieve next week when they host Kent State.