SEC Roadtrip Recap: Arch Manning Falters As Buckeyes Shut Down No. 1 Texas

Image: Eleven Warriors

By Aidan Sidoti

What a scene it was in Columbus. 

Lee Corso’s final headgear pick was nothing short of iconic. Saturday mornings in college football will truly never be the same.

Arch Manning played about as badly as he could have in his first career road start after stating before the contest “The target's not on our back. We have a red dot on everyone else." 

Turns out, Ohio State’s defense didn’t flinch. 

The Buckeyes, ranked No. 3, opened their national title defense with a 14-7 win that felt more dominant than the score suggested. 

Let’s be honest, both quarterbacks looked abysmal in the season opener. 

Manning never looked comfortable in the pocket once. He finished 17-of-30 for 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, with most of it coming in desperation time down fourteen. 

Through three quarters, the Manning family prodigy had 38(!) passing yards. Good lord. 

Ohio State’s defense, led by new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, had the Buckeye crowd rocking in one of the loudest games I’ve ever witnessed. 

Decibels levels spiked past 118 as Ohio State’s defense stuffed Texas on fourth down for the fourth time, sealing the game and igniting the Horseshoe.

Julian Sayin, making his first collegiate start, didn’t light up the stat sheet by any means– but he didn’t need to. 

He was poised and a true game manager that was mistake-free, unlike Arch. 

Sayin’s 40-yard touchdown heave to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter gave Ohio State a two-score margin and completed a drive that felt like a dagger to the Texas fans around me. 

Texas had their chances, but went 0-for-2 in the red zone in the second half, including a gut-wrenching stop of an Arch Manning QB sneak at the OSU one-yard line. 

The Longhorns finally got on the board with a 32-yard touchdown from Manning to Parker Livingstone with 3:28 remaining. After a quick three-and-out by the Texas defense, Manning gave it right back, turning it over on downs at midfield, ending the game. 

Shoutout again to Sam Beard for the Wario’s sandwich shop rec, the chicken cutlet (picture below) ranks among the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. 

Fanrun is hitting the road to Columbia this Saturday for the long-awaited revival of the ‘Border War’ between Kansas and Missouri at Faurot Field.