Coach Sark Speaks Out As Longhorns Jump To No. 1: Texas 'Hired Me To Win!'

Long-time Texas columnist Richie Whitt predicted a Texas Longhorns win over Ohio State. But not like this. Whitt's review ...

Maybe it was the lost fumble by Raleek Brown on the game’s first very snap.

Perhaps it was Cam Coleman’s drop-’n-pop 50-yard catch-turned-interception on the next drive, making it two turnovers in five plays.

MORE: Texas QB Arch Manning Takes Home Weekly SEC Honor After Ohio State Win

Wouldn’t be surprising if it was Ryan Wingo’s blatant drop of a pass in the end zone, negating a sure touchdown.

Could have been Steve Sarkisian’s seemingly white-flag decision to punt after a hapless three-and-out while trailing by 20 points late in the third quarter.

Maybe it was Spencer Shannon’s drop over the middle, putting a do-or-die 4th-and-6 in Arch Manning’s hands in the fourth quarter.

Or it might just have been the inexplicable blown coverage that allowed an easy 24-yard completion that handed their opponent field-goal range already trailing by six points with under five minutes remaining.

Texted a Burnt Orange buddy in the third quarter: “This shit is a disaster. Oh well, who’s our next coach gonna be?”

Any - or all - of those confounding plays could have justifiably prompted Texas Longhorns fans to lose hope, give up and stop watching Saturday night’s showdown against No. 1 Ohio State at a stunned Darrell K. Royal Stadium. But instead, despite the colossal comedy errors that dug a 23-3 deficit entering the fourth quarter, Texas produced one of the wildest, most unlikely rallies in the history of college football.

Texas 24, Ohio State 23. (Hey, I predicted 24-21, but no way did I foresee this dramatic route to the final score.)

The Longhorns - assisted mightily by a game-extending missed field goal by the Buckeyes - scored touchdowns on their last three possessions, climaxed by Hollywood Smothers’ 1-yard dive with :25 left. The 20-point comeback is the largest fourth-quarter rally in college football history to beat a team ranked No. 1.

Overcoming a rough start and zero help from his receivers, Manning finally had his “Heisman moment” by completing a clutch 4th-down pass to save the rally and by going 4 of 5 on the game-winning drive.

Sarkisian finally put up more than two touchdowns against the Buckeyes’ bully defense, scoring three in the game’s final 14 minutes.

“They didn’t hire me to keep it close,” Sarkisian said of his bold play-calling late. “They hired me to win.”

And Texas, despite four fumbles, three drops and an interception, finally beat Ohio State.

MORE: Texas Surges to No. 1 After Comeback Win Over Ohio State

Just like I predicted. But in an epic comeback fashion that neither I - or anyone else - saw coming.

No, not even Coach Sark himself.