Many anticipated the loser of Saturday’s matchup between Ohio State and Texas would see a significant blow to their national championship aspirations. As the fourth quarter approached, it appeared Texas was on the brink of facing this setback. However, a remarkable three-touchdown performance in the fourth quarter allowed the Longhorns to overcome a 20-point deficit against the Buckeyes. This victory sent Ohio State home in a stunning upset and provided quarterback Arch Manning with a sense of redemption after last year’s 14-7 defeat to OSU in the season opener.

“I’m just so proud of our guys in all three phases,” Manning stated. “It wasn’t very pretty, but we found a way to win. That’s what good teams do. We’ve got a bunch of good players. Lot of leaders. It’s going to be a fun night. I had nightmares about that game last year. So, we finally got a good win tonight. Gonna have a good night in Austin.”

The win not only added a crucial achievement to the resumes of UT head coach Steve Sarkisian and Manning, but it also positioned Texas as a legitimate national championship contender. In less than 24 hours after their victory, Texas experienced a surge in their national title odds, increasing from 11% to 17%, according to Polymarket. Interestingly, Ohio State’s odds also rose from 12% to 14%, tying them with Notre Dame for the second-best odds in the country.

Beyond improving their championship odds, Texas reaped additional rewards from their exhilarating win. They climbed to No. 1 in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Additionally, the Longhorns hold the No. 2 position in ESPN’s FPI Top 25 Rankings.