College football did not need to wait until November for its first unforgettable game… Just two weeks into the 2026 season, Texas and Ohio State delivered the kind of matchup that can define a season, with the Longhorns overcoming a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the No. 1 Buckeyes, 24-23, in Austin. The comeback was dramatic enough on its own, but the audience watching it made clear just how much the game resonated beyond the stadium.
An average of 14 million viewers watched the game on ABC, making it ESPN’s most-watched regular-season college football game in a decade. It was also the most-watched Week 2 college football game on record, while the broadcast peaked at 16.4 million viewers. The numbers were a reflection of what was happening on the field. Ohio State appeared to have complete control for most of the night, building a 23-3 lead and holding Texas scoreless through the third quarter. Then everything changed. Texas scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, turning a game that looked firmly in Ohio State’s hands into one of the wildest finishes of the young season. The Longhorns’ final touchdown came with 25 seconds remaining when Hollywood Smothers powered into the end zone from one yard out, giving Texas its first lead of the night.
The comeback also made history. According to Sportradar, Texas’ 20-point fourth-quarter rally was the largest fourth-quarter comeback against an AP No. 1 team in college football history. Texas became the first team to erase a deficit of that size against a top-ranked opponent in the final quarter. For a game that started with Ohio State looking firmly in control, the final quarter completely changed the conversation. Texas found ways to extend drives, make plays and keep the pressure on, while Ohio State’s offense struggled to put the game away. The Buckeyes managed only three points after halftime despite holding a 20-point advantage entering the fourth. It was also another chapter in what has quickly become one of the sport’s most compelling recent matchups. Texas and Ohio State met in the opening week of last season, when the Buckeyes won 14-7. A year later, the Longhorns returned the favor in spectacular fashion, this time on their home field and against a team that entered Austin ranked No. 1 in the country.
The significance of the game was reflected in the aftermath. Texas moved to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 following the victory, while Ohio State dropped to No. 6. The Longhorns also moved to 2-0 on the season, giving them an early statement win as they continue their first season under the weight of championship expectations. And perhaps that is what made the game so compelling. The season is still young. Conference races have barely begun, the College Football Playoff picture is nowhere close to being settled, and there are months of football still ahead. Yet two weeks in, Texas and Ohio State have already given college football one of those games people will keep coming back to.
A top-ranked team holding a 20-point lead. A fourth-quarter collapse. A historic comeback. A packed stadium. Fourteen million people watching at home. The 2026 season is only getting started, and Texas-Ohio State has already set a very high bar.
