Follow along as our Devon Messinger jots down notes from the press box during today’s highly anticipated, top-five matchup, between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
First Quarter:
On Texas’ first play from scrimmage, running back Raleek Brown coughed up the football, resulting in a turnover. If you want to beat the top team in the nation, you simply can’t start a contest like that. However, after a defensive stand from the Longhorns defense, Ohio State had to settle for a 26-yard field goal.
Talk about a bad start for the Longhorns. On a deep ball from Arch Manning, the ball deflects off of Cam Coleman and is intercepted by Buckeyes safety Jaylen McClain. Manning’s pass was slightly off the mark and Coleman nearly came down with it, but, a near completion doesn’t give the Longhorns any satisfaction.
Welp, the Longhorns are suffering a tough start to this contest. Following the interception, Ohio State easily marched down the field after the Texas pass rush struggled to create any sort of pressure on Julian Sayin. Ultimately, Buckeyes running back Ja’Kobi Jackson muscled his way into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown rush.
It goes without saying, Texas needs some sort of positive movement offensively on their next drive before the first quarter comes to a close. If they fall too far behind the eight ball, things will not be pretty for Sarkisian’s squad.
Defensively for the Longhorns, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has to get creative with his mid-game adjustments as Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is too good to leave in simple man-to-man coverage. Smith, perhaps the best wide receiver in college football, has already tallied 48 yards of offense in the first quarter.
Second Quarter:
Longhorns defensive back Jelani McDonald came up with a much needed stop on fourth down, forcing a Buckeyes turnover on downs. The decision to go for it in field goal range was already a questionable one for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, as there was no need to potentially give the Longhorns some momentum.
The Longhorns now have points on the board, but still left something to be desired. After marching down the field following the defense’s stop, Ryan Wingo dropped a potential touchdown pass from Arch before the team suffered a sack. As a result, Sark had to settle for a Gianni Spetic 37-yard field goal.
With a few minutes before the half, the Texas defense bends but doesn’t break. After a huge 43-yard pass from Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith, the Longhorn defense ultimately made their push with Colin Simmons coming away with a sack. Afterwards, Ohio State was able to extend their lead to 13-3 as a result of their second made field goal of the game.
If you are Steve Sarkisian, you cannot wait to get to the Texas locker room. On 4th-and-1, the Longhorns dial up a cute, trick play which ends up losing yards. As a result of the gamble, Ohio State gains great field position and quickly stormed down the field with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Sayin to Smith.
Third Quarter:
To start the second half, Texas has continued to struggle to move the ball in any way, shape or form. On the other side of the ball, the Longhorns defense has finally started to generate consistent pressure against the Buckeyes. However, it was Ohio State once again who found the scoreboard first – this time with a 48-yard field goal which extends their lead to 23-3.
Fourth Quarter:
Finally. It may have taken four quarters of action but the Longhorns have finally found the end zone thanks to a three-yard touchdown pass from Arch Manning to Ryan Wingo. It’s not too late to mount a comeback, now down 23-10, but it will have to be sparked quickly.
Who would have thought? The Longhorns offense has officially started to click, aided by contributions from multiple playmakers. After marching down the field again, running back Hollywood Smothers was able to sneak his way into the end zone from 1-yard out. Regardless of the final outcome of this game, there is too much time left to let your foot off of the gas pedal.
Hollywood Smothers finds the end zone again, this time with just 25 seconds left in the game! The Longhorns have found a way to take a lead in this game late, up 24-23.
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