Tre Johnson Dazzles, Texas Longhorns Fall to Ohio State Buckeyes in Season Opener

Longhorns Show Promise Despite Loss

Johnson's Performance a Bright Spot

In a highly anticipated season opener, the Texas Longhorns fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes 41-30 in a thrilling contest that showcased both teams' strengths and weaknesses. Despite the loss, the Longhorns displayed promising signs of growth, particularly in the performance of sophomore wide receiver Tre Johnson. Johnson emerged as a breakout star for Texas, catching 10 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. His speed, agility, and route running proved to be a major challenge for the Buckeyes' defense. Johnson's performance was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing night for the Longhorns' offense. The Longhorns' defense also showed moments of brilliance, holding the Buckeyes to just 10 points in the second half. Defensive end Ovie Oghoufo led the way with two sacks, while cornerback D'Shawn Jamison snagged an interception. However, the defense struggled to contain Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw for 349 yards and four touchdowns.

Quinn Ewers' Struggles

One of the biggest concerns for the Longhorns was the performance of redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers. Ewers, who was highly touted as one of the best recruits in the country, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the game. He completed just 18 of 32 passes for 182 yards and two interceptions. Ewers' struggles put pressure on the Longhorns' offense, which was unable to consistently move the ball. The Longhorns also committed several costly penalties, including a holding call that wiped out a potential touchdown.

Texas Defense Shows Grit

Despite the offensive struggles, the Longhorns' defense showed a lot of grit and determination. They forced three turnovers, including two interceptions, and held the Buckeyes to just 371 yards of total offense. The defense also came up with several big plays in key moments, including a fourth-down stop in the red zone in the third quarter. The Longhorns' defense was led by linebacker Jaylan Ford, who recorded 10 tackles and a sack. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo also had a strong game, with seven tackles and a tackle for loss.

Room for Improvement

While the Longhorns showed some promising signs in their season opener, there is still plenty of room for improvement. The offense needs to find more consistency, and Ewers needs to play better. The defense also needs to be more effective at stopping the run. However, the Longhorns have a lot of talent and potential. If they can clean up some of their mistakes and improve their execution, they have the potential to be a competitive team in the Big 12 this season.

Conclusion

The Longhorns' season opener was a disappointing one, but it also provided some valuable lessons. The team showed flashes of promise, but they also made some costly mistakes. If they can learn from their mistakes and improve their execution, they have the potential to be a successful team this season.