Texas rallies to defeat Ohio State as NFL prospects shine
Texas overcame Ohio State 24-23 in an early-season matchup, with standout performances from Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning, prompting draft-grade assessments of four key players.
Texas secured a 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State on Saturday night, delivering an early-season thriller that featured several players projected as high NFL draft picks. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith led all receivers with eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown, a performance the analyst described as comparable to Hall of Famer Julio Jones and graded as a top-5 draft selection.
Arch Manning, Texas’ quarterback, threw for 40 career touchdowns against 11 interceptions and guided his team to 21 fourth-quarter points, earning a top-5 draft grade and a comparison to Trevor Lawrence.
Texas also highlighted the potential of wide receiver Cam Coleman, who transferred from Auburn. Although Coleman recorded only three catches for 35 yards in the game, his prior production and physical traits earned him a top-10 draft grade and a comparison to A.J. Green.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin completed 12 of 16 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown in the first half before the Longhorn defense limited him to five completions in the second half. His accuracy and poise were noted, resulting in a third-round draft projection and a comparison to Kirk Cousins.