TEXAN REVENGE: OSU at texas game recap

yo could not script a better game than Saturday night in Austin. The Longhorns got their revenge against Ohio State after a close 14 to 7 loss in the shoe to start the season a year ago, and they did it with an absolutely electric three touchdown comeback scoring 21 unanswered points to shock the buckeyes by just one point. Outside of kicking woes and secondary issues to end the game from the Buckeyes defense, the true defining factor of this game was just what we predicted in our CFB Weekly game preview for this game; that the Texas line would simply be too much for Ohio Ohio State’s offensive line as the game unfolded.

We were right.

Superstar Colin Simmons off the edge for the Longhorns tallied two sacks on the day and was joined by DE Lance Jackson with one sack of his own. Simmons had a crucial sack with three minutes left in the second quarter limited Ohio State to just a field goal, killing momentum before the half.

This Longhorns defensive line, led by Alex January, Ohio State transfer Hero Kanu and Colin Simmons put the Buckeyes offensive line in hell. Every time the Longhorns needed the Buckeyes to hold to a field goal or not score at all down the stretch of the fourth quarter; It seemed like the defensive line did exactly what was needed. Even if the the sack total wasn’t whopping for the Longhorns, consistent QB pressure was on Julian Sayin all night.

Offensively for the Longhorns; production was a mixed bag. NC State running back transfer Hollywood smothers ran in two key touchdowns for the Longhorns and looked like the groups RB1.

Meanwhile, ASU running transfer Raleek Brown’s fumble on his first play of the game opened up the the Buckeyes scoring and gave the momentum to Ohio State immediately. Both Smothers and Brown will need to play at an elite level as a duo if the Longhorns want to continue their success in SEC play.

Despite a drop leading to an interception in the beginning of the game, highly touted Auburn wide receiver transfer Cam Coleman played a decent game on the outside for the Longhorns, tallying three catches for 35 yards. Coleman’s night was defined by a drop that led to a pick in the first quarter however.

A bright spot for the Longhorns is the fact that Ryan Wingo showed that he could be a wide receiver two consistently for the Longhorns offense as the season goes on. Wingo tallied just 4 catches for 22 yards, but his touchdown reception against Ohio State CB1 Devin Sanchez to bring the score to 23-16 in the fourth quarter was arguably the most important catch of the night for the offense. Expect Wingo to break out as this teams WR2 and potential deep threat.

Emmett Mosley seemingly slipped under the radar of the Buckeyes scouting report this week. The slot receiver led the team with 5 catches for 65 yards, including the final reception that set the Longhorns up at the two yard line to take a 24-23 lead.

If Mosley can continue that level of production, this offense will be scary as the mistakes limit themselves.

Outside of a few chunk plays from Jeremiah Smith, which the Biletniloff hopeful seemingly does to every team he plays, the Longhorns should be extremely happy about the performance of their secondary. Outside of Jeremiah Smith, just two Buckeyes receivers tallied a catch for the offense on the night. Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin each tallied in one catch, with 90 yards coming from the Buckeyes trio of tight ends Nate Robert’s and Mason Robinson and running back Bo Jackson.

For Ohio State, they are in desperate need of an emergence from somebody in the wide receiver room before big ten play stats. Jeremiah Smith was responsible for a whopping 59% of Julian Sayins passing yards, with the majority of the rest going to tight ends and running backs. Now is the time to buy stock on Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, and Brock Boyd. If one of those guys doesn’t breakout on the outside for the Buckeyes soon, Smith will be seeing double coverage all season.

On defense for Texas, the transfer LB duo of Rasheed Biles and Justin Cryer showed out. Biles, an offseason transfer from Pitt, led the team with 8 tackles while Cryer tallied 6. DB Kobe Black also tallied 3 tackles for the Longhorns.

For the Buckeyes, Caleb Downs replacement and FSU safety transfer Earl Little shined with 10 tackles, leading the team. Little was followed on the tackle leaderboard by junior LB Payton Pierce, who the coaching staff has trusted to lead the Buckeyes defense this year. Pierce rallied in 6 tackles, but struggled in key moments, getting dragged by Longhorns running backs on multiple occasions.

For the Longhorns, the groups wide receiver depth, defensive line play, and grit needed to come back from 20-3 against the #1 team in the country should excite fans everywhere. Buy stock on Rasheem Biles and expect Raleek Brown to play better in future weeks.

For the Buckeyes, with Brian Hartline gone, receiver is a genuine question mark for the first time. If somebody doesn’t break out soon to give Jeremiah Smith some help, this offense will become one dimensional and easy to stop.

Neither of these teams seasons are over and they very well might meet again. Until then, the Longhorns got their revenge.