Arch Manning narrowed the deficit to one possession late, but the Longhorns were not able to complete the comeback on the road.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Texas’ Arch Manning era did not start as Longhorn fans may have hoped.
In the highly-anticipated top-5 Week 1 matchup in Columbus, the No. 1 Texas Longhorns lost on the road against No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, 14-7.
It was the fourth time the AP’s No. 1 team in the preseason poll has met the previous season’s national champion in the opener. The defending champ has won the last three.
The game was a low-scoring, defensive affair, as both offenses struggled to move the ball effectively. Manning struggled against the Buckeyes, going 17-for-30 and 170 yards passing, with one touchdown and one interception. Manning found Parker Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown with just over three minutes to go.
Manning had 38 rushing yards on 10 carries. The Longhorns ran for 166 yards on 37 rushes as a team.
Ohio State sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin completed 13-for-20 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. Sayin connected with Carnell Tate on a 40-yard bomb in the fourth quarter. CJ Donaldson added 67 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown as Ohio State’s two scores.
Manning and the Longhorns had an opportunity to tie the game, getting the ball back on their own 15-yard line with 2:26 left and one timeout. Texas drove the field but got stopped at midfield after failing to convert on a fourth and five.
Before kickoff from Columbus, college football bid farewell to Lee Corso, who made his final headgear pick after an illustrious career.
Texas will face San Jose State at home next week. Ohio State continues its homestand against Grambling.
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