2008 Woodie Awards
Ohio State shows the country that they're #1
Juan Bernal
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: Sports
In the first number one vs. number two game to be played in the regular season in more than a decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes traveled to Austin, Texas to play the Texas Longhorns in a rematch of their epic game last season. Last season in Columbus, Vince Young (now with the NFL's Tennessee Titans) led the Longhorns to a 25-22 win. That victory catapulted Texas to the national championship, and the winner of this game would be the early favorite for the national championship.
In the first quarter, it was a defensive struggle for the first 12 minutes. Then the Buckeyes struck first blood with a Troy Smith to Anthony Gonzalez 14 yard pass to put Ohio State up 7-0. Toward the end of the second quarter would be the only positive for new Texas QB Colt McCoy, as he threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to Billy Pittman to tie the score a 7. McCoy, who is no Vince Young would struggle the rest of the night throwing for only 148 yards and an interception to add to his touchdown pass. The Buckeyes would respond before the half as they went on a 1:39 drive that ended with Ohio State star receiver and Heisman hopeful Ted Ginn Jr. in the endzone to put the Buckeyes up 14-7 going into halftime.
In the second half, it was all Buckeyes as they used their opening drive to tack on three more points as Aaron Pettrey added a 31 yard field goal. Meanwhile, the Longhorns only drive in the third quarter that did not end up in a punt was when McCoy was picked off by Buckeye linebacker James Laurinatis which ended up leading to Pettrey's field goal.
In the fourth, the Longhorns missed a 45 yard field goal and on the ensuing it was Pittman scoring his second touchdown from two yards out, which sealed the 24-7 Buckeye victory. Troy Smith, another Heisman hopeful, threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. In last season's game, he hardly played as he spent time backing up Justin Zwick. The Buckeye win snapped a 21 game Texas win streak and it's nine win streak against ranked opponents. It was also the first time that the number one team beat the number two ranked team in the regular season since Notre Dame beat Michigan in 1989.
In the first quarter, it was a defensive struggle for the first 12 minutes. Then the Buckeyes struck first blood with a Troy Smith to Anthony Gonzalez 14 yard pass to put Ohio State up 7-0. Toward the end of the second quarter would be the only positive for new Texas QB Colt McCoy, as he threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to Billy Pittman to tie the score a 7. McCoy, who is no Vince Young would struggle the rest of the night throwing for only 148 yards and an interception to add to his touchdown pass. The Buckeyes would respond before the half as they went on a 1:39 drive that ended with Ohio State star receiver and Heisman hopeful Ted Ginn Jr. in the endzone to put the Buckeyes up 14-7 going into halftime.
In the second half, it was all Buckeyes as they used their opening drive to tack on three more points as Aaron Pettrey added a 31 yard field goal. Meanwhile, the Longhorns only drive in the third quarter that did not end up in a punt was when McCoy was picked off by Buckeye linebacker James Laurinatis which ended up leading to Pettrey's field goal.
In the fourth, the Longhorns missed a 45 yard field goal and on the ensuing it was Pittman scoring his second touchdown from two yards out, which sealed the 24-7 Buckeye victory. Troy Smith, another Heisman hopeful, threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. In last season's game, he hardly played as he spent time backing up Justin Zwick. The Buckeye win snapped a 21 game Texas win streak and it's nine win streak against ranked opponents. It was also the first time that the number one team beat the number two ranked team in the regular season since Notre Dame beat Michigan in 1989.
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