Saturday night showed plenty of reasons why the media was so high on the Ohio State Buckeyes heading into the 2026 season.

For the first half against No. 4 Texas, Ohio State looked every bit like a team capable of making a run at another national championship. The Buckeyes forced turnovers, ran the ball effectively, threw with precision and, most importantly, appeared to control the game from start to finish.

Ohio State built a 20-point advantage and entered halftime with all the momentum.

Then it all went south.

So badly, in fact, that Saturday's collapse may go down as one of the worst losses of Ryan Day's tenure as head coach of the Buckeyes.

The second half was a complete reversal of everything Ohio State had done successfully before halftime. The Buckeyes managed just 28 total plays after the break, including two crucial three-and-outs, while Texas steadily chipped away at the lead.

The biggest takeaway from the game is difficult to ignore: The coaching staff needed to be better.

Ohio State looked prepared for Texas in the first half. After halftime, however, the Buckeyes appeared to make few meaningful adjustments as the Longhorns found answers on both sides of the ball.

There was nothing particularly exotic about what Texas was doing offensively. The Longhorns repeatedly went back to inside-zone and power runs, finding ways to stay ahead of the chains and keep the Ohio State defense on its heels.

The Buckeyes never consistently found an answer.

Defensive collapse

The biggest issue came on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the pass rush.

Arch Manning was repeatedly given far too much time in the pocket. There were multiple instances in which Manning was allowed to stand in the pocket for five or more seconds without an Ohio State defender putting meaningful pressure on him.

That simply cannot happen against a quarterback of Manning's caliber.

When the pass rush failed to get home, Manning was able to use his legs to create additional opportunities. Early in the game, Ohio State's defense appeared capable of containing him. As the contest progressed, however, Manning became increasingly comfortable and began making plays with both his arm and his legs.

By the beginning of the fourth quarter, Manning had settled into the game.

By that point, the Buckeyes should have already put the game away.

They didn't.

Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's fronts were repeatedly abused by Texas, yet Ohio State never appeared to make the necessary changes. The Buckeyes also failed to consistently spy Manning, allowing the quarterback to take advantage of open space when the pass rush collapsed.

For a team that entered the season with enormous expectations surrounding its defense, the lack of pressure was one of the most concerning aspects of the night.

Offensive second-half struggles

The offensive collapse was just as troubling.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was aggressive early, taking shots down the field and forcing the pace of play. Ohio State's offense moved with confidence, and the Buckeyes appeared to be dictating the game rather than reacting to Texas.

That aggression disappeared after halftime.

Ohio State's offense became stagnant, failing to sustain drives and giving Texas opportunities to continue its comeback.

Julian Sayin had a forgettable second half after playing well enough early to help Ohio State build its lead. His biggest missed opportunity came when he failed to connect with a wide-open Devin McCuin on what would have been a walk-in touchdown.

That play could have changed the entire complexion of the game.

Instead, the Buckeyes came away without the score.

Sayin also missed targets and threw several passes behind receivers as Texas continued to gain momentum. Against a team as talented as Texas, opportunities cannot be wasted, especially when Ohio State already had a sizable lead.

Jeremiah Smith was excellent during the first half, continuing to show why he is regarded as one of the most talented players in college football. But even Smith had mistakes, dropping two catchable passes that could have made a difference in the final outcome.

When a game ultimately comes down to a few possessions, those plays become magnified.

Another familiar ending

Special teams was better than it has been historically for Ohio State, but one familiar problem resurfaced at the worst possible time.

Another crucial field-goal miss.

It has become an all-too-familiar sequence for Buckeye fans: Ohio State builds a lead, becomes more conservative, allows the opponent back into the game, misses a crucial field goal and then watches the opposing team capitalize.

Get a lead. Play it safe. Let the opponent back in. Miss the field goal. Watch the other team capitalize.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

For Ohio State fans, the frustration comes from the fact that Saturday's loss followed a script that has become painfully familiar during the Ryan Day era.

The Buckeyes had control of the game.

Then they gave it away.

A tale of two halves

In the end, Ohio State lost this game just as much as Texas won it.

That distinction matters.

Texas deserves credit for fighting its way back from a 20-point deficit, making the necessary adjustments and executing when the game was there to be won. But Ohio State also played a major role in allowing the comeback to happen.

From lackluster coaching by the head coach and coordinators to players failing to execute at the level they have been expected to, the Buckeyes simply did not finish the job.

It was a tale of two halves, but the latter is the one that matters.

The first half showed what Ohio State could be.

The second half showed what Ohio State still needs to fix.

For a program with national championship expectations, that distinction is enormous.

Changes need to be made, whether those changes come in the form of schematic adjustments, better second-half play-calling, improved defensive pressure or simply better execution from the players on the field.

Because if performances like this continue, the "Lunatic Fringe" of Buckeye fans will once again be calling for Ryan Day's time in Columbus to come to an end.

Ohio State now sits at 1-3 in its last four contests, and Saturday's loss leaves a sour taste in the mouths of Buckeyes everywhere.

The talent is there.

The expectations are there.

But against Texas, Ohio State failed to show that it could finish.

And for a program that expects to compete for championships, that may be the most concerning takeaway of all.