Ryan Day made a bold gamble late Saturday against Texas that did not pay off for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes built a 23-3 advantage over the Longhorns heading into the fourth quarter at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Back-to-back Texas touchdowns to start the period chopped the 20-point lead down to 23-17.
A missed field goal with four minutes left gifted the Longhorns a shot at a potential game-winning drive. With about 90 seconds remaining, Arch Manning hit wide receiver Emmett Mosley on a slant that got Texas to the 1-yard line.
TEXAS OH MY GOODNESS pic.twitter.com/Eh69v2mrlh
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) September 13, 2026
Texas eventually scored the go-ahead TD, but not before milking the clock down to just 25 seconds and eating up Ohio State’s final timeout. The Longhorns held on for an improbable 24-23 comeback victory.
Hollywood. Wow. pic.twitter.com/IKYGKQ5PF7
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 13, 2026
Several fans slammed Day for the decision not to let Texas score early, with some even calling it “coaching malpractice.” Allowing a quick Longhorns touchdown would have given the Buckeyes a lot of time to set up a game-winning field goal.
Ryan Day not letting Texas score with a minute left is coaching malpractice.
— Lachlan McLean 📺 (@LachTalk) September 13, 2026
Instead of choosing to be down 1 point with a minute left and a time out, you're betting on stopping Texas FOUR TIMES from the 1-yard line.
Absurdly stupid decision.
I need a reporter to ask Ryan day
— Buckeyes (@OhioStateAddict) September 13, 2026
As a head coach how are you not screaming to let the other team score on the 1 yard line with 1 minute and 1 timeout?
I have zero clue why Ryan Day didn't let them score a minute ago
— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) September 13, 2026
Day was asked about the decision after the game. The Ohio State coach said he considered letting Texas score but ultimately decided against it.
“We talked about it and decided that we were gonna play defense on second down,” Day told reporters, via Bleacher Report’s Julia Stumbaugh. “And then when we got that stop, right there, we said, ‘Alright, we’re gonna take our chances. Put the ball down for one yard and see if we can stop them for two downs and win the game.’
“If they were to score there, on second down, then we would have gone from there … it didn’t work out.”
Ohio State kicker Connor Hawkins had just missed a 45-yard field goal in the previous possession that could have sealed the game for the Buckeyes. Day wanted to place his trust in his defense rather than put everything on a pressure-packed kick.
No matter the context, the loss counts all the same for No. 1 Ohio State.
