#4 Texas Thriller over #1 Ohio State

On September 12, 2026, the No. 4 Texas Longhorns pulled off a historic 24-23comeback victory over the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Ohio State dominated the first three quarters, building a commanding 23-3 lead powered by quarterback Julian Sayin and star receiver Jeremiah Smith. However, Texas stormed back in the fourth quarter behind quarterback Arch Manning, staging a 21-point unanswered rally. Running back Hollywood Smothers sealed the game with a 1-yard touchdown leap with just 25 seconds remaining. This marked the largest fourth-quarter comeback victory against an AP No. 1 ranked team in college football history. Following the historic game, the Associated Press Top 25 Poll shifted significantly:

• Texas jumped three spots to become the new No. 1 team in the country.

• Ohio State fell five spots down to No. 6. [1]

  
  

  Oklahoma Sooners: Brent Venables' squad is struggling at 2-2 and has dropped out of the Top 25 after convincing regular-season losses to Michigan and Georgia. The Sooners are facing immense offensive scrutiny as coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer look to bounce back from a rough multi-turnover showing against Georgia.