Is it too early to say that Texas is a bust?
The Longhorns were ranked No. 1 in preseason polls before their Week 1 14-7 loss against No. 3 Ohio State. An offense, led by Arch Manning, struggled all afternoon. It was a game that didn't live up to expectations in the first three quarters.
Texas was only 1-of-5 on fourth down the entire game. Their first score of the game came with 3:28 left. However, Manning did not have a bad game. Yes, some may see it that way, but consider the stage. This was against arguably the nation's top defense in a major home crowd advantage.
Manning ended up throwing for 170 yards on 17-of-30 passing attempts with a touchdown and an interception. Despite the loss, Texas led most major categories in the game, except for time of possession.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin showed why he is the top guy, with 13-of-20 for 126 yards and a touchdown. The Buckeyes were able to strike first, jumping out with an early 7-0 lead. With 13:08 left in the game, they scored the game-winning touchdown to go up 14-0.
Make no mistake about it, the story wasn't Manning or Sayin. The Buckeyes' defense were able to stop Texas from scoring twice inside the red zone in the second half, showcasing their strength up front. They were able to make Manning uncomfortable in the pocket the entire game. Last season, he faced inferior opponents, one being Mississippi State. So his first game against a true contender showed his true colors.
On the other side, the Longhorn defense held Ohio State to under 100 rushing yards. Their performance kept them in the game for a stagnant offensive effort. Jeremiah Smith was still able to make 6 catches for 43 yards, but did not go off or get into the end zone.
While it may be too early to determine whether Manning will be what everyone was expecting, we can only assume that it will be bad based on how he played against Ohio State. To be fair, with more experience, he will get more comfortable and get better with his timing and rhythm. When that happens at this level, watch out because Texas will be a true threat.
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