Here’s the difference between Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. Julian Sayin is not going to lose you a football game, but he may not win you it. Arch Manning could definitely lose you a football game, but he has the capability of winning it on his own two shoulders.

That distinction matters more than people realize, and the Texas-Ohio State tape from Saturday is the clearest evidence yet.

The tape told a scarier story than the score

Going back through the Texas-Ohio State film on both sides of the ball, the scary truth is Texas didn’t just miraculously play a significantly better game in the second half. There was time after time where the Longhorns could have easily lost that game. And it wasn’t just the missed field goal from Ohio State that lost it. There were so many other plays on the other side of the ball that led to the comeback.

Now, I understand a lot of people are going to blame Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. And I do think he holds a share of the blame. But the limitations everyone has been talking about all offseason with Julian Sayin are also a reason why the Buckeyes didn’t win this game.

Julian Sayin’s ceiling is the problem

Sayin’s limitations as an athlete can hinder Ohio State’s offense because he’s not able to extend or create. The arm isn’t fantastic, and his lack of ability to handle pressure at a high level gave Texas the opportunity to come back and win it. But like I said at the top, he’s not going to lose you the football game. He’s going to make the right decisions if you give him a clean pocket. He’s going to put the ball on time, accurate, everything you want from a quarterback.

And you may say, Tegan, that sounds like a perfectly fine quarterback. Sure. But “perfectly fine” might not be enough for a program with national championship expectations.

Arch Manning is the higher-risk, higher-reward player

Manning may bail out of a clean pocket, may extend plays that don’t need to be extended, may put the ball in harm’s way. But he can also make some incredible plays to keep your hopes alive. That’s the difference between these two quarterbacks. And that right there is why Manning is seen as a much better NFL draft prospect than Sayin, who may have a more polished resume and may have a higher floor but whose ceiling we know for a fact isn’t fantastic.

For Ohio State, this might be the difference between winning a national championship and not. Sayin will manage games, protect the ball, and keep the Buckeyes competitive. But when the moment demands someone put the team on his back and create something out of nothing, that’s not his game — it is Arch Manning’s game, and on Saturday, that reality played out in real time.