As the Texas Longhorns shocked the top team in the country, Ohio State, on Saturday, new face Hollywood Smothers played a key role. The Longhorns' running back was a scoring machine and helped erase a 20-point deficit when all hope seemed lost.
In his second game as a a Longhorn, Smoothers recorded a team high 74 yards on 21 carries. The Charlotte native also found the end zone twice and added 29 receiving yards to his resume. While Smothers impressed by having over 100 yards of total offense he made headlines by coming through in the clutch.
HOLLYWOOD SMOTHERS GOES AIRBORNE FOR GAME-WINNING TD 🤯🚨
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2026
TEXAS WAS DOWN 20 IN THE 4TH 😱
(via @TexasFootball) pic.twitter.com/Wa6X1Mf2hr
After the Longhorns made it a 23-10 game in the fourth quarter, Smoothers
became a scoring machine. Both of his touchdowns came with under eight minutes left and with points at a premium. His final touchdown came with 25 seconds left and set up an extra point that gave Texas the lead for good and will hold a special players in Longhorns history.
When Texas added Smoothers through the portal in the offseason, this is the type of impact they were hoping he would make. During the 2025 campaign, Smoothers set career highs in rushing yards with 939 and tied his career high in touchdowns with six. If he can mirror that production in the SEC, the Longhorns offense will be hard to stop, and so far he is meeting expectations.
#Texas RB Hollywood Smothers:
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) September 13, 2026
“This is why you come to Texas. When it was tough, we got it done.”@ontexasfootball pic.twitter.com/Swvw0TowR7
Through 31 carries in the burnt orange, Smothers has 144 rushing yards. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry and making an impact in multiple ways. When he is not rushing the football, Smootehrs has been a popular target in the Longhorns' passing game with 57 receiving yards on six catches. His ability to play multiple roles has added a new layer to the Longhorns' offense.
As Texas chases a national title, Smoothers will be a key piece to their success. On Saturday, he showed that when the stakes are at their highest, he is a player who can be relied on.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Transfer RB Hollywood Smothers shines in Longhorns historic win
