AUSTIN, Texas – The defense helped Ohio State build a 23-3 lead over Texas through three quarters, but ultimately allowed the Longhorns to score a game-clinching 21 points in the fourth quarter.
No. 1 Ohio State fell 24-23 to No. 3 Texas on Sept. 12, marking its biggest fourth-quarter collapse in school history.
Texas had just 113 passing yards and 73 rushing yards entering the fourth quarter, and the Longhorns were averaging 3.6 yards per play. The Buckeyes had six tackles for a loss of 37 yards, including two sacks.
"We really played well for three quarters," Day said. "And then didn't play well enough in the fourth quarter. That's the bottom line. ... They sustained some drives, converted those fourth downs, kept us on the field, the defense."
Momentum quickly shifted as quarterback Arch Manning completed a 91-yard Longhorns drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ryan Wingo 41 seconds into the fourth quarter.
As the quarter went on, Ohio State's defense began missing tackles, letting the Longhorns raise their average yards per play to 5.6 over the game's final 15 minutes.
Texas ate 10:07 minutes off the clock across three drives, with each one resulting in a touchdown. Running back Hollywood Smothers rushed for the game-winner on third-and-1 with 25 seconds remaining.
"We weren't even gassed," Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain said. "It was just execution. At the end of the day, we've just got to practice real hard, because there's going to be games with high snap counts."
The Buckeyes finished the fourth quarter logging 13 tackles, none for a loss, and zero sacks – totals which diminished the impact of the defensive unit's dynamic first-half performance.
On the game's opening drive, Ohio State freshman nickel back Jay Timmons forced Texas running back Raleek Brown to fumble the ball at the Longhorns' 18-yard line. The Buckeyes converted the turnover into merely a field goal.
McClain turned a crucial error by Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman into an interception the following drive. Coleman had the ball within reach, but it bounced off him into McClain's arms. The Buckeyes went 81 yards and pulled ahead 10-0 after McClain's pick.
Despite the Longhorns' offense remaining sloppy up until the start of the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes' defense slowly stopped capitalizing on Texas' mistakes.
"A team like that, when they get some momentum, they're going to keep on swinging," McClain said. "And at the end of the day, we just got to keep on swinging as well."
bmackay@dispatch.com
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How Ohio State's defense turned strong start into collapse vs Texas
