No. 5 seed Texas appeared to be close to tying the game in the fourth quarter after a tough setback just minutes earlier.
Ohio State took a 21-14 lead in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic with a 13-play, 88-yard drive, finishing with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Quinshon Judkins with 7:02 left in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Texas’ offense had trouble moving the ball against Ohio State for most of the game, but they quickly started a drive on their next possession.
Beginning at their own 25-yard line, the Longhorns advanced to first and goal at the OSU one-yard line in nine plays.
Texas had been using backup quarterback Arch Manning in certain red zone situations this season, and he had been effective, giving their offense a mobile option that starting quarterback Quinn Ewers didn’t. Fans and local media in Austin hoped to see Manning used more in these situations during the CFP.
However, head coach Steve Sarkisian kept Ewers in the game for two running plays, which ended in a loss of seven yards. (The loss came from a toss play.)
After an incomplete pass on third down, Ewers was sacked and fumbled on fourth down. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer scooped up the ball and scored a touchdown with 2:13 left in the game.
Fans on social media expressed confusion over why Sarkisian didn’t bring Manning in at the goal line, arguing that it might have helped Texas’ offense against Ohio State’s defense.
Manning’s substitution had worked earlier in the game when he helped the Longhorns get a key first down on a fourth-and-one run in the first half.
“No Arch Manning in at the goal line is crazy,” wrote a fan.
“Blows my mind how you don’t use Arch Manning down at that goal line series! Unbelievable…but a great game if Texas scores on that series we would have likely had overtime or Ohio State having to put a game-winning scoring drive together,” posted another.
“Arch Manning should’ve been in last drive at the goal line,” argued a fan.
“Not to mention they have Arch Manning to just do sneaks or draws over and over. In fact, they’ve done that all year in goal line packages. That play calling snafu was Pete Carroll 2.0,” wrote another.
“Texas should’ve brought Arch Manning out there at the goal line,” suggested a fan.
