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

Texas didn’t just beat Ohio State on Saturday night. The Longhorns changed the shape of the national championship race.

After rallying from a 23-3 fourth-quarter deficit to stun the previously top-ranked Buckeyes 24-23 in Austin, Texas vaulted to No. 1 in the AP Top 25, the US LBM Coaches Poll and USA TODAY Sports’ latest NCAA Re-Rank.

MORE: Texas Beat Ohio State, But The Longhorns Have Plenty To Fix

Texas’ 20-point fourth-quarter rally was the largest ever against an AP No. 1 team, and it came against an Ohio State squad that had controlled most of the night.

Arch Manning helped flip the game late, finding Ryan Wingo for a touchdown before leading the drive that ended with Hollywood Smothers scoring from 1 yard out with 25 seconds remaining. 

Manning finished with 196 passing yards and completed 11 of his final 15 throws after struggling earlier in the game.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 278 yards, while Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.

But the Buckeyes couldn’t put the game away and failed to score a touchdown after halftime. 

That finish was enough to push Texas to the top of the national rankings.

USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg argued the win “could stand up as the best by any team in the Bowl Subdivision during the regular season,” while also noting that Texas’ late-game performance justified moving the Longhorns ahead of Notre Dame.

The AP voters agreed.

Texas moved to No. 1 for the first time in the regular season since October 2024 and reached the top spot this early in a season for the first time since 1965. Ohio State, meanwhile, fell to No. 6 after the loss. 

For Steve Sarkisian’s program, the result was about more than rankings.

Texas showed it can survive adversity against an elite opponent, recover after three quarters of frustration and still execute when the pressure is highest.

That’s what No. 1 teams are supposed to do.

MORE: Arch Manning Just Gave NFL Scouts the Answer They Wanted Against Ohio State

And after Saturday night in Austin, the Longhorns have the ranking to prove it.