Ohio State loses to Texas (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
#2 Ohio State 23, #4 Texas 24
Day said pregame that Ohio State needed to throw the first punch, and the Bucks did that with the help of some Texas mistakes. On Texas’ first possession, Jaylen McClain forced a fumble that was recovered by Jay Timmons. A couple of Bo Jackson carries up the gut later, and Ohio State had 1st and goal. The Bucks picked the worst time to call that toss play to the weak side they love so much, and that stalled out the drive, and Ohio State had to settle for a field goal. Texas had a huge opportunity after the field goal. Cam Coleman beat Jaylen McClain deep but couldn’t reel it in. In fact, Arch Manning’s pass popped up, and McClain came away with a pick.
Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and company then went on an 10-play, 81-yard drive for a touchdown. It took 4:36 off the clock, and Ja’Kobi Jackson finished it off with an 8-yard touchdown run. The Silver Bullet defense started flying after that! Texas had three plays and went backward four yards. Riley Pettijohn sacked Manning to force a punt, and the Bucks got the ball back with a 10-0 lead.
Second Quarter
Ohio State began the second quarter with a first down at Texas’ 21-yard line. Ohio State would only get to the 13-yard line, and Ohio State would go for it. When their interior running game and offensive line had looked so dominant in the first quarter, it wasn’t a bad call. Unfortunately, Ohio State didn’t make it, and Texas started a drive of their own. Texas went 69 yards and took 7:41 off the clock, but the Buckeye defense bucked up in the Red Zone. Ohio State forced a field goal by Texas to lead, 10-3.
The Bucks would respond with a drive that would get a boost from a big Jeremiah Smith catch. Smith climbed the ladder for a 43-yard catch. Ohio State would face a third-and-long, and Sayin would throw another tall one, and this time Brandon Inniss would reel it in for a 19-yard gain. Ohio State would fail to protect Sayin and have to settle for a field goal. Ohio State would lead 13-3.
Jeremiah Smith
With 1:41 to go in the half, Texas would try to get a drive going but would stall and be stopped by Ohio State on fourth down near midfield. Ohio State would drive down the field with some quick plays to Bo Jackson before #4 struck. Saying threw a laser to Jeremiah Smith in between two defenders for a touchdown. Smith had six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Ohio State would lead 20-3 at the half. Ohio State’s best player celebrated too soon, though. Flashing the Horns Down after this score would come back to haunt him.
Second Half
Buckeyes got the ball to start the second half and got into Texas territory before they stalled out and had to punt in the Gray Zone. That’s the area of the field where you’re really too close to punt and too far away to kick a field goal. The Texas 39-yard line was that spot for the Bucks. They opted to punt and got a modest 26-yard change of field position. Ohio State would get the ball again, and thanks to Jeremiah Smith, would get another field goal and make it a 23-3 lead.
Other than Jeremiah Smith’s big catch, Ohio State’s offense was stalled out all third quarter. The Bucks defense then got tired from being out there most of the third quarter. So, when Texas went for it on 4th and 9, they got it pretty easily. Texas was knocking on the door at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The poor third quarter offensively for Ohio State got paid off by Texas. The Longhorns got their first touchdown within the first minute of the fourth quarter. Ohio State responded by continuing their silly second-half offensive strategy. They handed it off twice, acting like it was a four-minute drill, then threw on third down. It was incomplete, and Ohio State went three-and-out and put a tired defense back on the field.
Ohio State continued to coach and play like they were trying to run the clock out the entire second half of the game. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes were trying to run a 4:00 drill with 30:00 to go. They sat on the lead like an egg until it hatched into a defeat. It was just like 2005. You don’t beat Texas by kicking field goals and trying to kill the clock. Ohio State was outscored 21-3 in the second half and lost by stopping themselves. Much like Day’s debacle against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.
Bucked Up
This is part of Ohio State’s current identity. In the biggest games with equal talent, they’re a coin flip at best. The worst coaching jobs in team history belong to the current coach and his staffs. Clemson in 2019, Oregon in 2021, Georgia in 2022, Oregon again in 2024, that team up north in 2024, Indiana in 2025, Miami in 2025, and Texas in 2026 were all epic defeats due to the team crumbling mentally. They blew double-digit leads against Clemson, Georgia, Oregon in ’24, and Texas tonight.
Up Next, Kent State
Ohio State will be back at home next week against a foe that they should shatter into a million pieces. Kent State trailed Wofford today 15-14 late in their game and will be the object Ohio State will take their frustrations out on.
