For the No. 4 Texas Longhorns to get where sixth-year head coach Steve Sarkisian wants to take them, the program has to get past behemoths like the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, who stood in the way of a national championship appearance in the College Football Playoff two years ago.
Now the Buckeyes represent the first major test for the Longhorns this season as Texas chases its first title since 2005.
Advertisement
With consecutive losses to Ryan Day’s program, Ohio State looms as a Georgia-like barrier to success for Sarkisian, who is 0-5 against the two programs over the last two years.
Is Saturday the day that Texas breaks through?
Pregame warmups
In the wake of a Friday report that freshman running back Derrek Cooper will be a game-time decision for Texas after suffering an ankle injury last week in the season opener, Cooper was dressed and going through warmups with his teammates on Saturday.
First quarter
After winning the toss, Ohio State deferred to the second half and kicked off to start the game, a returnable kick for Ryan Niblett, who only made it to the 22-yard line. The Buckeyes appeared to quickly gain momentum by forcing a fumble by fifth-year running back Raleek Brown, who was hit behind the line of scrimmage and fumbled as Ohio State blew up the blocks by junior wide receivers Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V, a call upheld on review.
Advertisement
Facing a sudden-change situation, the Texas defense held despite allowing a first down on two runs by Bo Jackson as new Ohio State offensive coordinator appeared to miss some key lessons from the last two meetings between the college football blue bloods — don’t run toss sweeps near the goal line and don’t expect superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to beat sophomore nickel back Graceson Littleton.
The toss to Jackson went for a nine-yard loss on a big-time play by senior linebacker/edge Brad Spence and Smith couldn’t come up with the pass from quarterback Julian Sayin in the end zone, forcing a 28-yard field goal that put the Buckeyes on top early.
Senior running back Hollywood Smothers opened the drive with two carries after a touchback on the kickoff, gaining eight yards on duo with a lead block from sophomore tight end Nick Townsend lined up as a fullback, then secured a first down on third and short.
Looking for a big play, Sarkisian schemed up junior wide receiver Cam Coleman open on a deep over route, but the ball was slightly overthrown and as Coleman dove for it, the ball popped out directly to Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain, another call upheld on review.
Ohio State opened the drive with a chunk play on a short pass to tight end Mason Williams for 23 yards, but got behind the chains thanks to a lateral to running back Legend Bey and an incompletion by Sayin. With the play clock running down on 3rd and 10, Day was forced to call a timeout.
Advertisement
With Texas playing zone and pressure not getting home, Smith was able to find an opening for 13 yards, then took a screen pass for nine yards. After several successful runs by Jackson, Smith got a slant over the middle and Jackson powered through multiple defenders for an eight-yard touchdown run and a 10-0 lead.
Senior quarterback Arch Manning seemed to loss his composure on the ensuing drive, throwing high and incomplete on first down and then running into a sack on 3rd and 4.
Things continued to go poorly for the Longhorns on the first punt of the season by senior Mac Chiumento thanks to a 16-yard return by Brandon Inniss.
Advertisement
A scramble by Sayin on 2nd and 11 set up a manageable third down for the Buckeyes, where Smith did more damage, creating separation for a 10-yard gain. Two runs up the middle continued to punish the Texas defensive line, but weren’t enough to move the chains — on 3rd and 4, a similar call picked up a first down to end the first quarter.
Second quarter
Into the red zone, Ohio State decided to go for it an 4th and 2, running the ball up the middle again, but this time the Texas defense stiffened as junior defensive tackle Alex January created initial penetration.
A two-back set was ineffective as Smothers got hit near the line of scrimmage, but Manning pushed through some pain in his throwing hand that received treatment on the sideline to complete a comeback route to Coleman. Working the perimeter with a screen pass to Wingo, the Longhorns started to show signs of gaining a rhythm with a 16-yard gain. Able to stand in the pocket and deliver, Manning didn’t spin the football as well and put it at risk trying to target sophomore tight end Emaree Winston on an imcompletion.
Advertisement
Running hard between the tackles, Brown bowled his way to an eight-yard gain, then gave way to Smothers, who ran behind the team’s two big tight ends, breaking several tackles on the way to a 10-yard effort. Leaning on the Ohio State defense, Sarkisian stuck with the ground game and Brown responded with a six-yard gain on a wrinkle from the Texas head coach — a two-back set with Brown receiving the handoff on orbit motion.
Out of an injury timeout, Sarkisian didn’t change his strategy as two runs by Smothers gain a first down. Another big opportunity went wanting on 1st and 10 from the 30-yard line when Wingo turned a cross route upfield, but dropped a good pass from Manning in the end zone. Manning responded with a dart to Coleman for nine yards and Smothers took a carry from an unusual two-back formation for seven yards.
The drive stalled when Brown was stopped for a one-yard gain and Manning was sacked trying to climb out of the pocket under pressure. Looking for Coleman, Manning was too careful with a high pass, overthrowing Coleman against double coverage. On to ensure the drive didn’t finish empty, fifth-year kicker Gio Spetic got some draw on his 37-yard attempt to slide it inside the right upright.
Matched up against senior safety Derek Williams, Smith got open a post route and made an impressive spinning catch for a 43-yard gain after spinning Williams around out of his break.
With momentum in danger of swinging back in favor of the Buckeyes, sophomore defensive end Lance Jackson came up with a coverage sack on 2nd 7 for a six-yard loss.
But the Longhorns couldn’t get off the field as Inniss beat senior linebacker Rasheem Biles in coverage to convert 3rd and 13.
Advertisement
A stuff for no gain against Jackson sent the game into the two-minute timeout with Ohio State into the red zone for the fourth time. Junior edge Colin Simmons finally made his presence felt with a sack of Sayin for an eight-yard loss as Sarkisian used a timeout.
Opting for a conservative screen pass on 3rd and 18, the Buckeyes made the field goal a little easier, but Simmons also took a knock on the play and was slow to make his way to the sideline. Connor Hawkins connected from 30 yards to extend the lead to 13-3 with 1:41 remaining in the half.
A touchback left the Longhorns with the ball at the 25-yard line and one timeout remaining. Going empty, Manning secured a modest gain on a quarterback draw, but more importantly, got out of bounds. Wingo and Coleman both picked up first downs on consecutive completions, a streak that ended when Manning threw the ball out of bounds from a clean pocket when he missed Mosley open over the middle. Trying to target Mosley, Manning airmailed the pass to set up 3rd and 10.
In four-down territory, Wingo was called for a false start and Manning threw incomplete, but was bailed out by a offside penalty. On a check down, Brown picked up nine yards and got out of bounds without contact, a decision that came back to haunt the Horns.
Trying to beat Ohio State on the perimeter, Sarkisian made a disastrous call to run an end around to Wingo, who never had a chance when cornerback Jermaine Matthews Jr. dropped him for a 10-yard loss.
The Buckeyes pounced as Sayin connected with Jackson twice for a combined 24 yards before the decision to give Smith yet another free release in zone coverage that turned into a 19-yard touchdown pass.
Third quarter
The first play of the second half was an eight-yard gain by Jackson that left senior linebacker Justin Cryer down on the field injured. Impressive feet and vision allowed Jackson to pick up 11 more yards before a screen to Smith found the sideline for another chunk gain. As Cryer returned, the Buckeyes made a conservative decision not to go for it on 4th and 4 from the 39-yard line, a decision that looked worse after a 26-yard punt failed to pin the Longhorns on their goal line.
Advertisement
Texas got behind the chains after two positive plays when Wingo was dropped for a loss on a swing pass, then Manning missed Mosley over the middle to force a punt after which Townsend received medical attention before heading to the locker room.
The Longhorns had a chance to get a three and out, but senior cornerback Warren Roberson got caught squatting at the chains on 3rd and 10, allowing Smith to run free for another 43-yard gain.
On 2nd and 10, a rare misfire by Sayin missed Devin McCuin wide open down the seam, and another inaccurate pass on third down sailed past multiple Texas defenders before it found the artificial turf of Campbell-Williams Field, forcing Hawkins onto the field for a 48-yard attempt that sailed true for a 23-3 lead.
Advertisement
Unable to generate anything downfield, the Horns went three and out after Manning checked down on first and third down. An unfavorable bounce on the punt by Chiumento failed to flip the field, but the Buckeyes responded with their own three and out.
Texas was lucky to avoid a third turnover when Niblett took the punt off his face mask and the ball nearly bounced right to an Ohio State player.
Manning scrambled for a first down after missing senior tight end Spencer Shannon open over the middle, then scrambled again for a positive gain. On a swing pass to Brown that went for a loss, Manning missed another open receiver as Wingo came open on the fake screen.
A shot play to freshman wide receiver Jermaine Bishop didn’t connect, but did result in a pass-interference penalty. A run and a check down to Smothers couldn’t find any space, however, setting up 3rd and 9. Under heavy pressure, Manning was forced to throw the ball away, leading Sarkisian to go for it on fourth down out of desperation. Flushed from the pocket, the Texas quarterback connected with Winston over the middle to extend the drive, throwing the ball across his body at a full sprint.
Advertisement
Winston caught another pass from Manning for another first down, but dropped a check down before Manning tried to scramble, but only gained two yards. Coleman helped out his teammate Mosley by recovering a fumble at the end of Mosley’s first reception, and the quarter ended with another scramble by Manning down towards the goal line.
Fourth quarter
On 2nd and 1, Smothers was stopped at the line of scrimmage, but a rub route on third down helped Wingo get open in the end zone and the junior was able to finish the catch this time for Texas’ first touchdown of the game.
Smith’s strong hands weren’t able to extend the ensuing Ohio State drive with senior cornerback Bo Mascoe draped all over Smith on a slant on 3rd and 4.
Advertisement
On 3rd and 6, Manning looked for Shannon, but the ball went off the big tight end’s hands between multiple defenders. After a timeout by Ohio State, Mosley made a tough catch over the middle on a dart from Manning into a small window. Decisive up the middle, Smothers moved into Buckeyes territory with a good run.
Another run by Smothers got stuffed before Manning scrambled for eight yards. On 3rd and 1, a hard run by Brown up the middle led to the Texas quarterback hitting Coleman sitting down in a soft spot of the Ohio State zone coverage. Into the red zone, Manning came under quick pressure and tried to shovel a pass to Brown that went incomplete. Two runs by Brown moved the ball to the 1-yard line for 2nd and goal, and Smothers re-entered the game to follow Winston in for an easy score.
Suddenly, the deficit was down to a single score at 23-17.
Advertisement
After Smith dropped a glance route, Sayin had plenty of time to throw when he vacated the pocket and a tight end came open on the other side of the field for a big 24-yard gain. The coverage bust was compounded by a pass-interference penalty on Phillips, who didn’t know where the ball was when he made contact with the intended receiver.
The odds of getting a stop without Ohio State scoring decreased further when Jackson ran for 11 yards up the middle, then powered for another good gain. A stuff on second down gave the Longhorns defense a chance to hold the Buckeyes to a field-goal attempt, and Mascoe came through with physical coverage against Smith down the sideline. Steady throughout the game until that point, Hawkins hit the ball poorly on his 45-yard attempt and the kick went wide left to keep the deficit at one score.
The Texas drive picked up steam with a 17-yard catch by Mosley — who went into traffic with both hands on the football — and Brown looked electric by making a defender miss in the hole to pick up 11. A check down to Brown went incomplete, saving lost yardage, but a check down to Winston was more successful in gaining nine yards to send the game into the two-mintue timeout.
From a condensed formation, Smothers followed Wingo into the hole to convert the third down, then gained three before the Buckeyes called a timeout with 1:30 remaining. The break didn’t help the Ohio State defense, which allowed separation to Mosley on a fake screen and the Stanford transfer powered through some failed tackle attempts for 19 yards.
Advertisement
At the 1-yard line, Smothers was stopped for no gain and Day burned his final timeout with 51 seconds left.
Running into the middle for a second time, Smothers got close to the goal line in a mass of bodies and eventually lost the football, but a review upheld the call of the Texas running back down inside the 1-yard line. Over the top, Smothers finally scored, and the point-after attempt was good for a 24-23 lead.
Texas nearly intercepted Sayin trying to throw deep down the field, but settled for a holding call forced by Simmons. With 17 seconds left, the Longhorns used a timeout to get organized defensively.
With the clock ticking down, Littleton’s interception sealed the unbelievable comeback.
Celebrate the win with Breaking T.
Read the full article here