AUSTIN, Texas – No. 1 Ohio State football blew a fourth-quarter lead and fell to No. 3 Texas 24-23 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Stadium on Sept. 12.
The Buckeyes are now 2-1 when facing the Longhorns over the last three years. Ohio State defeated Texas 28-14 in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals and notched a 14-7 win over the Longhorns during the 2025 season opener.
Here are the game's key moments and takeaways:
Ohio State football vs. Texas takeaways
Ohio State has a disastrous fourth quarter
The Buckeyes saw their 23-3 lead evaporate in the fourth quarter, ultimately disappearing with 25 seconds remaining in the game.
Hollywood Smoothers pushed the Longhorns over the top when he scored the game-winning 1-yard touchdown. The senior running back also recorded the second of three Texas touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Texas
opened the quarter with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Arch Manning to Ryan Wingo.
Ohio State's field-goal kicking remains a problem
Ohio State had the chance to take a two-score lead with less than five minutes left on the clock when kicker Connor Hawkins stepped up to attempt a 45-yard field goal.
Hawkins' longest made field goal for Baylor last season was over 50 yards, but his second 40-plus-yard attempt with the Buckeyes went wide left to give Texas the ball back in the final three minutes, down just 23-17. He had earlier made a 48-yarder.
The Buckeyes' former kicker Jayden Fielding struggled to make field goals in crucial moments last season, including against Michigan and the Big Ten Championship against Indiana.
Jeremiah Smith records 150-plus yards after previously struggling vs Texas
Jeremiah Smith's 43-yard leaping catch during the final six minutes of the first half gave the wide receiver the same number of yards he recorded against Texas in last season's opener.
The Longhorns were the only team to hold Smith to fewer than 45 yards twice going into this matchup, as they also limited him to three yards in 2024.
Smith flipped the script in his first game on Texas' home field, receiving 110 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He finished with 164 yards.
Ohio State left points on the board in first half
While the defense put Ohio State in a position to take a 21-point lead before the 13:23 mark in the second quarter, the Buckeyes pulled ahead just 10-0 after their first three drives.
On the very first play of the game, Ohio State freshman Jay Timmons forced a fumble from Raleek Brown on Texas' 18-yard line. The Buckeyes went just 11 yards on six plays and settled for a field goal.
Safety Jaylen McClain got the Buckeyes offense back on the field four plays later, grabbing an interception when a long pass bounced off Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman's chest as he fell to the turf.
The Buckeyes completed an 81-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown by running back Ja'Kobi Jackson, but failed to score the next drive after holding Texas to three-and-out and receiving the ball on Texas' 48-yard line.
bmackay@dispatch.com
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: No. 1 Ohio State falls apart, defeated by No. 4 Texas. Read our instant takeaways
