Ohio State is trying to shake off one of those losses that lingers all week.
After the Buckeyes let a 23-3 lead slip away in Austin and fell to Texas, Ryan Day didn’t hide how the finish felt inside the program.
"It's maddening," he said. "And, you know, we're excited to get back on the field and get going because, the last couple of days haven't been fun around here.
We've had some really good conversations with the guys. I think they're going to be in a good mindset moving forward.
We understand we have a lot of football ahead of us."
The pain point was obvious: Ohio State controlled the game before Texas erupted for 21 fourth-quarter points to turn it into a close loss.
Day also pointed to one of the bigger benefits of opening the season against a team like Texas instead of easing in against a lesser opponent.
"It gives you a lot of information that playing a lesser opponent wouldn't give you." he said.
One of the most debated moments came on Texas’ final drive, when some wondered whether the Longhorns should have been allowed to score quickly and leave Ohio State with one last chance. Junior linebacker Payton Pierce made clear that wasn’t how he saw it.
"That's just not the way I guess our defense is wired and should be wired, I think," he said about the idea of letting Texas score. "Just put the ball down and, you know, it's at the 2-yard line.
We got to make four stops. And that was that was the plan."
Now the Buckeyes move on to a new week and a home date with Kent State on Saturday.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshmen Frustration Just Put A New Problem In Public
Ohio States loss to Texas did more than dent the Buckeyes early-season momentum. It also spilled a little of the programs internal frustration into public view, as three freshmen used social media to air dissatisfaction with their roles and limited opportunities, a jarring development for a team that is still trying to settle itself after an important defeat.
Jerquaden Guilford, Brock Boyd and Bey were among the players whose posts drew attention, with language that pointed to a desire for more involvement. For a staff already sorting through a disappointing result, it adds a fresh layer of concern about buy-in and roster harmony, even if there has been no official response yet. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Added New Controversy To Texas' Win Over Ohio State
Texas win over No. 1 Ohio State already had enough postgame baggage after Steve Sarkisian abruptly cut off ESPN reporter Holly Rowe during a brief on-field exchange. The moment itself was awkward enough, but it quickly became a bigger talking point once a fake AI-generated video of Sarkisian slapping Rowe started making the rounds online, giving the upset a strange and unnecessary afterlife beyond the scoreboard.
Arch Manning then poured fuel on the reaction when he weighed in on the clip during a Monday exchange, describing it as hilarious. The comment drew immediate criticism on social media, with some users calling for apologies and public statements from both Manning and Sarkisian, turning a celebratory Texas moment into another reminder of how fast a viral postgame clip can shift the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Needs More Than A Win Against Kent State
Ohio State gets a chance to reset at home this week against Kent State, with the Buckeyes coming off the Week 2 loss to Texas and looking for a cleaner showing on both sides of the ball. The matchup will be carried on FOX and streaming platforms, and on paper it gives Ohio State a comfortable spot to get back on track while working through some of the issues that showed up last time out.
The bigger value here may be less about the result and more about what the Buckeyes can take from it, especially on offense. A lopsided win would be welcome, but Ohio State needs a performance that helps settle the unit, builds confidence after the setback and gives the coaches a better feel for where this team is headed as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]