Entering the season with the sport’s top ranking and the Heisman favorite at quarterback, expectations for Texas were sky-high on Saturday. To add even more pressure, College GameDay was in town for Lee Corso’s final appearance. Unfortunately, against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, pressure did not make diamonds. Despite stellar play from the Texas defense, offensive struggles held the Longhorns back in a 14-7 defensive slugfest.
They say defense wins championships – and that was the case for the Buckeyes last season. In January, Ohio State bullied their way to a win over the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff, ultimately claiming the title against Notre Dame. On Saturday, Ohio State didn’t make anything easy for the Texas offense. In fact, it wasn’t until a few minutes into the fourth quarter that Arch Manning and the offense started to find their rhythm. Still, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the offense beat itself today. Manning struggled with accuracy on short throws and missed several key reads. That said, Texas receivers also had trouble creating separation throughout the game. Add in a handful of ill-timed false start penalties, and it’s easy to understand why Week One ended in disappointment.
After Ohio State took a 7-0 lead into halftime, it was sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin who stole the headlines. With 13:08 left in the fourth quarter, Sayin extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 14-0 with a 40-yard touchdown pass to wideout Carnell Tate. Despite allowing just 203 total yards, the Texas defense could only do so much. Sayin’s touchdown was the backbreaker and, ultimately, the game-winner.
Still, the Longhorns had one last chance. After Arch Manning connected with Parker Livingstone on a 32-yard touchdown, Texas cut the deficit to just seven. The defense delivered a quick stop, giving Manning and the offense another opportunity. But his accuracy faltered again, and the final drive ended with a turnover on downs.
Fortunately for Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns, the season is just getting started – and many of Saturday’s issues can be fixed with time and repetition. But the loss was a clear reminder: the road to a national championship is long, and this team still has plenty to prove.
Next Saturday, Texas will aim for its first win of the season against San Jose State. Kickoff from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is set for 11 a.m. (CT) and will air on ABC or ESPN.
