Texas claimed the No. 1 ranking in the latest AP Top 25 Poll on Sunday, capping a dramatic 24-23 victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2 of the college football season. The Longhorns overcame a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit with a 21-3 run, including a game-winning 1-yard touchdown by Hollywood Smothers with 25 seconds remaining. Ohio State’s collapse marked the end of the Buckeyes’ 115-game winning streak when holding a 20-point lead, the sixth-longest active streak in FBS history.
Arch Manning’s fourth-quarter heroics drove Texas’s comeback, as the quarterback engineered three touchdowns in the final quarter, including the go-ahead score. Manning finished with 195 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, but his poise under pressure drew praise from analysts. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III called Manning’s performance a “first-overall-pick-in-the-draft” showing, emphasizing his resilience despite a modest box score.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day acknowledged the Buckeyes’ struggles in the fourth quarter, stating the loss would force the team to make “hard decisions” moving forward. Day reiterated the team’s focus on “winning the fourth quarter”, a mantra he has emphasized since late-season collapses in 2025, including losses to Indiana and Miami. The Buckeyes surrendered 91 yards on 15 plays in their final three drives, allowing Texas to convert 9 of 16 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs.
College GameDay host Rece Davis expressed skepticism about Texas’s claim to the top spot, noting the Longhorns’ uneven performance beyond their signature win. Davis ranked Notre Dame at No. 1 and Texas at No. 2, citing concerns about Texas’s consistency against a stronger opponent. “They’ve got the best win and the best moment,” Davis said, “but they haven’t shown they’re the best team yet.”
Urban Meyer, a former Ohio State coach, criticized the Buckeyes’ inability to make defensive stops in the final drives, highlighting Texas’s 91-yard touchdown march as a critical failure. Meyer also questioned Ohio State’s receiving corps, noting that Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes’ star receiver, accounted for eight of the team’s 11 catches in the loss, while the rest of the group combined for just two receptions.
Day framed the loss as an opportunity for growth, telling reporters, “We don’t blame, complain, or defend. We solve problems and move forward.” The Buckeyes, now ranked No. 6, will look to regroup as they prepare for their next game. Texas, meanwhile, solidified its position as the preseason favorite, with Manning’s performance fueling discussions about his 2027 NFL Draft stock.
The victory marked one of the largest comebacks over an AP No. 1 team in the past two decades, reshaping early-season narratives in college football. Analysts will closely monitor both teams’ trajectories, particularly Ohio State’s ability to close games and Texas’s consistency in high-pressure situations.