Columbus, OH — The noon kickoff at Ohio Stadium gave Arch Manning his first chance to lead the No. 1 Texas Longhorns as the full-time starter. Against the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes and one of the nation’s toughest defenses, the junior quarterback had his share of struggles, and the Longhorns came up just short in a 14–7 loss in Week 1.
From the start, Ohio State’s defensive front kept Manning under pressure, forcing hurried throws and disrupting Texas’ rhythm on offense. He finished 17-of-30 for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Several drives ended in frustration, including missed opportunities in the red zone and a pair of underthrown passes that stalled momentum.
Still, Manning and the Longhorns battled until the end. With just under six minutes remaining, he connected with Parker Livingstone on a 32-yard touchdown, pulling Texas within one score and giving the offense its first breakthrough of the afternoon.
Texas had one final chance after regaining possession inside its own 20 with just over two minutes to play. Manning hit tight end Jack Endries for a key gain to midfield, but Ohio State’s defense tightened once again, forcing a turnover on downs and allowing the Buckeyes to run out the clock.
For Texas, it was a tough loss in a matchup where they fell to Ryan Day’s Ohio State program for the second consecutive time.
The Longhorns now return home to Austin, looking to bounce back in Week 2 against San Jose State.