Fourth-Quarter Chaos Buries Ohio State

Down 20 in the fourth quarter, No. 4 Texas roared back to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 in Austin.

Story Highlights

Texas scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win 24-23.
Arch Manning’s early fourth-quarter touchdown to Ryan Wingo sparked the rally.
Hollywood Smothers’ 1-yard run with 25 seconds left put Texas ahead for good.
An Ohio State missed 45-yard field goal set up the winning drive.

Texas Turns a 20-Point Hole Into a One-Point Win

No. 4 Texas beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night in Austin, flipping a game that seemed over. Ohio State led 23-3 after three quarters. Texas then scored 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to win by one. The comeback ended on a 1-yard touchdown run by Hollywood Smothers with 25 seconds left. The late surge gave Texas a signature win early in the season and handed Ohio State a painful road loss.

Texas started the rally when quarterback Arch Manning hit Ryan Wingo for a fourth-quarter touchdown. The score cut the lead and charged the crowd. Texas kept pushing on defense and special teams, forcing short fields and faster Ohio State punts. The offense answered with tempo and clean execution. The Longhorns stayed within one score late, setting up a final drive after Ohio State missed a 45-yard field goal that could have sealed the game.

The Go-Ahead Drive and Final Seconds

Texas took over after the missed kick and drove the field with urgency and balance. Manning threw quick outs and slants to move the chains. The backs found small seams to keep the clock running. With under a minute left, Texas reached the goal line. Smothers then leaped over the pile for a 1-yard touchdown, giving Texas its first lead at 24-23. Ohio State had one last chance, but time and field position left no clear path to a response.

Ohio State controlled most of the night before the collapse. The Buckeyes built their 23-3 lead with strong defense, field goals, and a steady ground game. The turning point came when the offense stalled in the fourth quarter. Empty possessions let Texas hang around. The missed 45-yard field goal was the final opening Texas needed. One decisive drive later, the Buckeyes walked off stunned, while the Longhorns celebrated a comeback that will live in program lore.

Why This Upset Resonates Beyond the Box Score

Fans pack college stadiums for nights like this because belief can flip a game fast. Texas showed that momentum, depth, and clean late-game execution still matter more than hype. The win came against the top-ranked team, and it arrived in the final seconds. That combination puts the game alongside past fourth-quarter rallies that people talk about for years. Still, one game does not define a season. It does, however, test both teams’ poise and coaching under stress.

And just like that, everything changed.

Texas takes over at No. 1. Ohio State falls to No. 6. Michigan is back in at No. 19.

College football gave the voters plenty to think about this weekend. Now the fun part begins:

Why did everyone land where they did? 🏈 https://t.co/p8xUHnMv5x

— Ranktory Sports (@RanktorySports) September 13, 2026

For Texas, the path forward now includes higher expectations and tighter scouting from every opponent. For Ohio State, the tape will show missed chances to close. The lesson cuts both ways and echoes beyond sports: details and discipline decide tight contests. Fans on the right and left often feel let down by leaders who do not finish the job. This game was the opposite story. Texas finished. Ohio State did not. On the field, at least, accountability had a clear score.