Instant Analysis: Dissecting the Longhorns’ 14-7 loss to Ohio State is tricky

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a mixed bag for the Texas Longhorns on Saturday in a 14-7 loss to Ohio State in the season opener at Ohio Stadium. The offense lacked consistency and rhythm for the first three quarters, but the defense played well except in a couple of key moments.

Noah Gross and Billy Gates discussed the first season-opening loss for the Longhorns since 2018, and it started with the up-and-down play of sophomore quarterback Arch Manning. He finished 17-for-30 with 170 yards with a touchdown and an interception, adding 38 rushing yards, and at times showed the brilliance that everyone expected to see. However, it was his third-career start, and the Buckeyes have an elite defense with perhaps the best defensive back in the country, junior Caleb Downs.

Manning misfired on several throws when he appeared to have plenty of time to deliver the ball, but he also made some tremendous completions to get Texas back in the game. His 32-yard scoring pass to Parker Livingstone in the fourth quarter and a 30-yard strike to Jack Endries in the fourth are prime examples of what he’s capable of.

At the same time, an inexperienced quarterback is going to take time to develop consistency and rhythm, even if his last name is Manning.

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian realizes this is just one game in a season that could potentially be 16 games, so while it hurts to lose, he’s staying the course and keeping it about the process.

“I sat at SEC media days and said the days of an undefeated national champion are over, especially when you play in games like this,” he said. “We have an opportunity over the next month to clean some things up and get ourselves in a great frame of mind to get ready for SEC play.”

Gross and Gates give their thoughts about the game and how it played out in the video above.