Arch Manning Texas vs Ohio State Comeback: A Game of Adjustments and Momentum
Texas appeared finished after falling behind Ohio State 23–3. Then Arch Manning and the Longhorns changed everything, scoring 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to complete a stunning 24–23 comeback.
The Arch Manning Texas vs Ohio State comeback became one of those college football games where the final score doesn't tell the entire story.
For much of the game, Ohio State appeared to be in control. The Buckeyes pressured Manning, created problems for the Texas offense and carried a commanding 23–3 advantage into the fourth quarter.
During our live analysis on DC Stewart Sports Network, Isaah and I weren't watching the game knowing how the story would end. We were questioning Texas' offensive approach, examining Ohio State's defense, discussing Manning's struggles and asking what adjustments Texas needed to make.
Then the entire game changed.
Texas scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and came all the way back to defeat Ohio State 24–23.
And because our analysis was recorded as the game unfolded, you can hear our opinions and predictions before we knew Texas would complete the comeback.
WATCH: Texas rallied from 23–3 down as Arch Manning led an incredible comeback against
Video caption:
Down 23–3, Texas looked finished. Then Arch Manning and the Longhorns flipped the game. Watch Derek Stewart and Isaah break down the adjustments, momentum swings, critical decisions and incredible comeback as Texas rallies to defeat Ohio State 24–23.
Jeremiah Smith Was Creating Problems for Texas
One thing became obvious during the game: Jeremiah Smith is a special football player.
During our analysis, I put it simply:
“The guy is just, he is a stud.”
Smith's combination of athletic ability and playmaking gave the Texas defense another major problem to solve.
Ohio State was also getting production from its running game, allowing the Buckeyes to dictate portions of the game rather than simply reacting to what Texas wanted to do offensively.
At that point, Ohio State didn't appear to be the team searching for answers.
Texas was.
Texas Needed More Than a Halftime Speech
One of the biggest questions entering the second half was simple:
What did Texas learn during the first half?
Isaah emphasized the importance of identifying what Ohio State was doing and responding with actual football adjustments:
“You look at film and look at those positions...and then you make your adjustments accordingly.”
Halftime adjustments aren't simply about motivation.
Coaches are studying formations, personnel, matchups, defensive coverages and tendencies. They're determining what worked, what failed and what the opponent may be exploiting.
Texas needed to find something quickly.
An early defensive stand provided some hope.
But stopping Ohio State wasn't enough.
Texas still needed points.
Pressure Was Building on Steve Sarkisian
As Ohio State continued controlling the game, the pressure increased on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Texas was playing at home with enormous expectations surrounding the program and its quarterback.
During the broadcast, I talked about how much pressure Sarkisian was facing as his team struggled.
The problem wasn't simply the possibility of losing.
It was how Texas was losing.
Ohio State was dictating the football game, while Texas was searching for an offensive identity capable of changing its momentum.
That raised several questions.
Could Sarkisian make the necessary adjustments?
Could Texas create a spark?
And could Arch Manning respond when things weren't going according to plan?
Texas Needed to Change the Tempo
Isaah identified something Texas could change immediately: tempo.
His suggestion was to speed things up and make Ohio State respond:
“You gotta run some hurry-up stuff right now because even though it's the third quarter...he needs a spark.”
That word became increasingly important.
Spark.
Texas didn't necessarily need one miraculous play.
The Longhorns needed something capable of changing the rhythm of the football game.
Eventually, one of those changes became obvious.
Arch Manning started using his legs.
That forced Ohio State to account for another dimension of the Texas offense.
Arch Manning Was Struggling to Read Ohio State
This is where the final score shouldn't rewrite what happened earlier.
We were critical of Arch Manning during the game.
And that criticism was warranted based on what we were watching at the time.
Ohio State's defensive looks were creating problems. Manning sometimes appeared to lock onto where he wanted to go with the football instead of forcing the defense to reveal itself.
Isaah identified one example immediately:
“He telegraphed that play...there's a lot to learn right now.”
That's part of the development of a young quarterback.
And Manning faces another challenge most quarterbacks don't:
his last name.
The Manning name creates expectations that Arch should already diagnose defenses and manipulate coverage like his uncle Peyton Manning.
Peyton eventually became one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history at diagnosing defenses, identifying pressure and changing plays at the line of scrimmage.
Arch isn't Peyton Manning.
And at this stage of his development, he shouldn't be expected to be.
What happened later in this game, however, showed something else about Arch.
How Arch Manning Changed the Texas vs Ohio State Comeback
As Manning began using his athletic ability, Ohio State had another problem.
The Buckeyes could no longer focus exclusively on where Manning wanted to throw the football.
They also had to account for Manning as a runner.
That changed the equation.
During our analysis, Isaah and I started discussing a scenario that seemed almost impossible earlier:
What if Texas actually came back and won this football game?
And if they did, who would deserve the credit?
Isaah's answer was immediate.
Arch Manning.
The important part is when that conversation happened.
We weren't sitting in a studio after the game constructing a narrative around a Texas victory.
The comeback wasn't finished yet.
We were watching the possibility develop in real time.
Ohio State Let Texas Hang Around
Football games can turn on decisions that seem relatively small when they're made.
That's why one moment from earlier in the game became increasingly important.
Ohio State had an opportunity to take points.
Instead, Ryan Day elected to go for it on fourth down.
Texas got the stop.
During the broadcast, Isaah characterized the decision as “greedy,” while I argued Ohio State should have taken the three points.
At that moment, nobody knew Texas would eventually win by one point.
That's exactly why these decisions matter.
When you're controlling a football game, sometimes the objective isn't to make the spectacular decision.
It's to keep accumulating points and make the opponent's path back increasingly difficult.
Texas remained alive.
And eventually Ohio State gave the Longhorns another opportunity.
The Missed Field Goal Changed Everything
Late in the game, Ohio State had an opportunity to put additional pressure on Texas with a field goal.
The kick missed.
Suddenly, everything felt different.
Texas had the football.
The Longhorns had momentum.
And Arch Manning had an opportunity that every quarterback says he wants.
My reaction during the broadcast was simple:
“This is Arch's moment.”
There was no hindsight involved.
We didn't know whether Manning would succeed.
But this was the opportunity.
If Arch Manning wanted to change the narrative surrounding his performance, this was the drive.
From 23–3 to 24–23
Everything that happened earlier suddenly mattered.
The struggles.
The defensive adjustments.
The criticism of Manning.
Texas changing its offensive approach.
Arch using his legs.
Ohio State leaving opportunities on the field.
The missed field goal.
And finally, Manning getting the opportunity to help Texas complete the comeback.
Texas scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points.
The Longhorns went from trailing 23–3 to winning:
Texas 24. Ohio State 23.
A game that appeared finished became a Texas victory.
What the Arch Manning Texas vs Ohio State Comeback Really Showed
The easiest thing to do after a comeback is pretend the winning team had everything figured out.
Texas didn't.
That's what makes this game interesting.
Arch Manning struggled.
Ohio State caused problems.
Texas made mistakes.
Sarkisian faced legitimate pressure.
Isaah and I questioned whether Texas could generate enough offense to get back into the football game.
Then the Longhorns adjusted.
Momentum changed.
And when Arch Manning finally received the opportunity to change the outcome, he responded.
That's more valuable to me than pretending everything was perfect.
Quarterbacks aren't defined only by what happens when everything works.
Sometimes we learn considerably more by watching what they do after it doesn't.
DC Stewart Sports Network Verdict
Texas deserves credit for refusing to disappear when the game appeared lost.
Arch Manning deserves credit for responding after struggling.
The Texas defense deserves credit for creating opportunities that allowed the offense to get back into the game.
But Ohio State also has to answer an uncomfortable question:
Did Texas win this game—or did Ohio State allow Texas to hang around long enough to take it away?
That's the debate.
And that's why our complete 1:05:00 second-half analysis offers something different from a traditional postgame recap.
You're not hearing us explain the comeback after we know the result.
You're hearing our analysis change as the football game changes.
Watch the Full Texas vs Ohio State Analysis
Watch Derek Stewart and Isaah break down Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State's defense, Texas' adjustments, the missed field goal, the momentum shift and the final comeback on DC Stewart Sports Network.
DC STEWART SPORTS NETWORK
REAL SPORTS DEBATE. NO ESPN SCRIPTS.
Join the Debate
Who deserves the most credit for Texas' comeback?
Arch Manning? Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff? The Texas defense? Or did Ohio State simply let Texas hang around too long?
Leave your take and watch more college football analysis from DC Stewart Sports Network.
🎥 WATCH THE FULL 1:05:00 ANALYSIS
DC Stewart Sports Network — REAL SPORTS DEBATE. NO ESPN SCRIPTS.
Texas vs Ohio State: Arch Manning Leads INSANE 20-Point Comeback | Full 2nd Half Analysis
DC STEWART SPORTS NETWORK
REAL SPORTS DEBATE. NO ESPN SCRIPTS.
JOIN THE DEBATE
Who deserves the most credit for Texas' comeback?
Arch Manning? Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff? The Texas defense? Or did Ohio State simply let the Longhorns hang around too long?
Leave your take in the comments and subscribe to DC Stewart Sports Network for weekly college football game analysis.
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