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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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After Texas' stunning comeback win, head coach Steve Sarkisian didn't hesitate to offer his honest opinion of the Ohio State Buckeyes as far as criteria for a College Football Playoff spot.
The early-season clash between two teams ranked in the nation's top six featured the Buckeyes building what looked like an insurmountable 20-3 lead in the first half, and led 23-3 heading into the fourth quarter. However, quarterback Arch Manning stayed calm and composed under pressure.
With Manning's steady leadership, the team responded with an epic three-touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to ultimately win the game 24-23. It was an exciting win for the Longhorns, but a devastating loss for the Buckeyes, who fell from the No. 1 spot to sixth in the Top 25 polls this week.
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Texas surged to No. 1 in the nation after that huge win, getting revenge for the early-season loss they suffered at Ohio State last season. In recent remarks, Sarkisian strongly defended Ohio State regarding CFP selection down the road.
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"I hope Ohio State does not get punished for that game Saturday night. They played a heck of a game. I mean, it's 24-23. They lose to us scoring with 25 seconds to go in the game. ... I hope that if they end up being a 9-3 team, the committee can appreciate the fact that they came to Austin, Texas, in September when it was 100 degrees and played us in that environment," Sarkisian told reporters.
"They should not be punished. Quite frankly, Ohio State should be rewarded for playing in this game against us," the Longhorns head coach said. "This isn't crying over spilled milk. I don't think we got rewarded for going to Columbus last year in Week 1. Hopefully this year they reward Ohio State for coming and playing in this game with us, this year."
Sarkisian said if the committee doesn't reward teams for scheduling early games like the Texas-Ohio State clash, then teams will just start playing "FCS Power Six," suggesting it wouldn't be "the product that we want in college football."
In the 2025 season, Manning and Texas faced Ohio State in their first game, and the Longhorns fell 14-7. They ultimately went 9-3 overall in the season, and the early loss seemed like a detriment rather than helpful for their CFP case, like Sarkisian suggested could happen to Ohio State this season.
Both teams started 1-0 this season, with many claiming that No. 1 Ohio State was the team to beat. Texas has now done that and seems to have instantly boosted its chances of playing in the CFP, depending on how they fare with the rest of their schedule.
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