One year falling to Ohio State in their season opener, Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns scored the final 20 points in Saturday’s rematch to pull off a stunning 24-23 upset over the top-ranked Buckeyes.

The Longhorns not only came back from a 20-point deficit but did so in spite of several costly dropped passes from their highly touted receives, one of which miraculously turned into an Ohio State interception.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Longhorns improved to 2-0 as Manning appeared to get an early edge in the Heisman Trophy race against Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin, who completed just 17 of 32 passes for 278 yards to go with a touchdown and an interception.

Manning also had a score and a pick, while completing 23 of 37 passes for 196 yards. More importantly, the grandson of Arch and nephew to Peyton and Eli Manning orchestrated the game-winning 12-play, 73-yard drive that culminated with Hollywood Smothers’ second touchdown of the game.

‘We got a bunch of good players, a lot of leaders,’ Manning told ESPN afterwards. ‘It’s a fun night.

‘I had nightmares when I came [to Columbus] last year, so we got a good win tonight,’ he continued. ‘Have a good night, Austin. Thank you so much.’

Arch Manning flashes the ‘Hook ’em Horns’ hand signal after the comeback win over OSU

Ryan Wingo of the Texas Longhorns drops a pass with pressure from OSU’s Devin Sanchez 

Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates a win over OSU by singing The Eyes of Texas

Manning’s enthusiasm carried over into the post-game press conference, where he admitted he did ‘not want to come in here after a loss… to Ohio State again.’

Media on hand were quick to take notice.  

‘That was the most chipper Arch Manning has been in a media setting in a long, long time,’ On3’s Tyler Horka wrote on X. ‘He’s fired up. Rightfully so.

‘He just beat the No. 1 team in the country and came back from down 20 points to do it.’

Saturday’s game marked the first time since 2004 an top-ranked team in the AP poll lost after leading by 20 points or more in the fourth. No. 1 teams had been 197-0 under those circumstances before Texas’ comeback, according to the Longhorns program. 

It was Manning’s touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo early in the fourth that started the comeback. Smothers scored on a 1-yard run with 7:14 to play before Ohio State drove for what could have been a clinching field goal.

Connor Hawkins, who had earlier made three field goals, missed from 45 yards, setting up Texas’ winning drive.

Texas’ Arch Manning  is sacked for a loss by Ohio State defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Hollywood Smothers #2 of the Texas Longhorns scores a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

Austin resident Matthew McConaughey celebrates with Texas after their win over Ohio State

The victory is arguably the biggest regular season win in six seasons for coach Steve Sarkisian, and certainly for Manning, who had struggled to live up to Heisman expectations

The gritty win could also give Texas a claim at No. 1.

The victory is arguably the biggest regular season win in six seasons for coach Steve Sarkisian, and certainly for Manning, who had struggled to live up to Heisman Trophy expectations early in his career.

For the Buckeyes, Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. But the offense produced just a single field goal after halftime, and Sayin’s desperation pass on the final play was intercepted before Texas players rushed on the field to celebrate the comeback. 

And like Sayin’s interception, Manning’s may not have been his fault.

Although he overthrew a wide-open Cam Coleman, the top recruit still managed to get his hands on the ball, only to lose it as he came crashing down to the field. But rather than falling incomplete, the ball instead ricocheted off Coleman and into the hands of Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain, thereby turning a potential score into a turnover.

That wasn’t the only costly drop for Texas. Wingo botched a touchdown reception in the second quarter. 

Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) scramble against Ohio State during the first half

‘Texas would be up 14-3 if their receivers could catch,’ one SEC football fan wrote on X. 

‘Texas receivers hate Arch Manning,’ another added. 

Fortunately for the Longhorns faithful, including Matthew McConaughey who was on hand on Saturday, the drops didn’t spoil a memorable win in Austin. 

Ohio State (1-1) hosts Kent State next week while Texas could host the University of Texas San Antonio as the country’s top-ranked team.