Ryan Day's Fourth-Down Gamble Backfires as Ohio State's Historic Collapse Sends Warning to Iowa Fans

Ohio State's 309-0 all-time record when leading by 17 or more points at halftime is no more. The Buckeyes' stunning 24-23 loss to Texas on Saturday night in Austin has put head coach Ryan Day squarely in the hot seat, and ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum isn't holding back about who's to blame.

For Iowa football fans, the collapse carries extra weight: the Buckeyes visit Kinnick Stadium on October 3, and the Hawkeyes suddenly look like a much bigger threat to the Big Ten powerhouses.

What happened in Ohio State's loss to Texas?

The Buckeyes dominated most of the game, outgaining Texas 240-97 in the first half and building a 23-3 lead after three quarters. But the Longhorns mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, capped by Hollywood Smothers' 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left to seal the 24-23 victory.

Ohio State became the first AP No. 1 team since 2004 to lose after holding a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, a position where top-ranked teams had previously gone 197-0.

Finebaum calls out Day's first-half decision

Finebaum pointed to a critical moment early in the second quarter. With Ohio State leading 10-0 and facing fourth-and-2 from the Texas 13-yard line, Day sent the offense out instead of kicking a field goal. The play gained just one yard, and the Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs.