Hollywood Smothers Scores Twice in Final Minutes as Texas Stuns Ohio State 24-23

A Dramatic Fourth Quarter Reversal

The Texas Longhorns completed a remarkable comeback on Saturday, September 12, 2026, defeating the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23 in front of a packed crowd at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The victory, which improved Texas to 2-0 while dropping Ohio State to 1-1, was decided by two consecutive one-yard rushing touchdowns by Hollywood Smothers in the final minutes of the game.

Ohio State controlled the early tempo, building a commanding 20-3 halftime lead and extending it to 23-3 after three quarters. The Buckeyes’ offense, led by quarterback Julian Sayin, was efficient throughout the first half. Sayin completed 17 of 32 passes for 278 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown strike to Jeremiah Smith.

Smith finished with eight receptions for 164 yards and the score. Bo Jackson contributed on the ground with 74 rushing yards on 19 carries.

The Longhorns Begin Their Rally

Texas remained silent in the first quarter before finally putting points on the board late in the second half of play. Gianni Spetic kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 10-3, and Connor Hawkins responded with a 30-yard kick for Ohio State to push the lead to 20-3 at halftime.

Hawkins added a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter, making the score 23-3 heading into the final period.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the fourth quarter. Arch Manning, making his first career start, guided the Longhorns down the field with precision passing. Manning finished the game completing 23 of 37 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, though he also threw one interception.

His connection with Emmett Mosley proved crucial; Mosley hauled in five receptions for 65 yards, providing Manning with reliable targets in the red zone.

Sealing the Win

With just over eight minutes remaining, Manning found Ryan Wingo for a three-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 23-10. Spetic’s extra point kept Ohio State ahead, but Texas refused to settle. Smothers broke through the Buckeyes’ defense for a one-yard rushing touchdown, followed shortly by another one-yard run with less than two minutes left.

Both of Smothers’ touchdowns were credited with the extra point from Spetic.

Smothers finished with 21 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the hero in Austin. Despite Ohio State’s strong first-half performance and Sayin’s efficient passing display, the Buckeyes could not stop Texas’s late surge. The final score of 24-23 stood as the Longhorns secured their second consecutive win of the season.

Sources

ESPN