Texas's defense showed its the best unit in the country
The gameplan from Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns' defensive coaching staff to limit this ultra-potent and talented Ohio State offense worked really well for Texas, outside of a couple of miscues on scoring plays for the Buckeyes.
Save for the 75-yard screen pass that went for a touchdown from quarterback Will Howard to running back TreVeyon Henderson right before halftime late in the second quarter, Texas's defense was really effective in this game.
The defensive line greatly limited the effectiveness of the Ohio State ground game, with the Buckeyes only rushing for 81 yards and 3.4 yards per carry. Texas also got pretty good pressure on the quarterback Howard in the game's final three quarters.
Freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons alone came up with three quarterback pressures and two batted balls behind the line of scrimmage. Senior linebacker David Gbenda also had a key interception in the second half that gave the Longhorns a chance to tie the game up by giving the offense great field position near midfield.
That was Gbenda's first pick of the season.
Before the game, had you told me that Texas's secondary would hold superstar freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to just one catch for three yards and no touchdowns, I would've thought the Longhorns had a great chance of beating the Buckeyes at the Cotton Bowl yesterday.