AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning and No. 4 Texas stole a 24-23 win from No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night, Sept. 12, 2026, rallying from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit and winning on Hollywood Smothers’ 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left, the Associated Press reported via CBS Sports.

The Longhorns’ 20-point fourth-quarter comeback is the largest final-period rally to win against an AP No. 1 team, according to Sportradar, the AP said. Ohio State had led 23-3 after three dominant quarters before Texas (2-0) clawed back.

Manning sparked the surge with a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo early in the fourth. Smothers scored on a 1-yard run with 7:14 to play, then Ohio State (1-1) drove for what could have been a clinching field goal. Connor Hawkins, who had already made three field goals, missed from 45 yards, setting up Texas’ winning drive.

“When that happened, I knew it was our time,” Manning said, per the AP. “I’m really proud of the way we responded. We could have let that thing go. It’s a testament to our coaches and our culture.”

Manning finished with 196 yards passing and completed 11 of his final 15 attempts. “We just had to get something going, I always knew we were going to be in it in the end,” he said. “I’m so glad we won.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team with the heart, the desire and the fight,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. The AP called it arguably the biggest regular-season win in six seasons for Sarkisian — and certainly for Manning, who had struggled early in his career to match Heisman expectations. “I told Ryan after the game, I hope to see you again,” Sarkisian added.

Julian Sayin threw for 278 yards for Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, but the Buckeyes managed just one field goal after halftime. Sayin’s desperation pass on the final play was intercepted as Texas players flooded the field.

“I felt, you know, we had them on the ropes and didn’t finish,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “So we got to go back and figure out why that was.” Sayin added: “I had a couple throws that should have been completions.”

It was the third meeting in three seasons between the programs, including a College Football Playoff matchup in the 2024 season. Ohio State hosts Kent State on Sept. 19; Texas hosts UTSA the same day.

Dated Saturday night into Sunday, Sept. 12–13, 2026: No. 4 Texas erased a 23-3 hole and beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Smothers’ late score — the largest fourth-quarter comeback win vs. an AP No. 1 on record, per Sportradar.

Sources