Harry Cabluck / AP

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith completed 17 of 26 passes for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns as the top-ranked Buckeyes beat the No. 2 Texas Longhorns Saturday.

Saturday night’s game was an unusual early-season blockbuster with two of college football’s heavyweights both on the field and in tradition.

The last time 1-2 met in the regular season, No. 2 Florida State beat No. 1 Florida, but the Gators won the rematch in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship. Ohio State was the first No. 1 to come to Austin since SMU in 1950.

The Longhorns unveiled a nifty option with McCoy and Jamaal Charles and were picking up big chunks of yardage on the ground. Texas drove to the Ohio State 7 before receiver Billy Pittman fumbled at the 2.

Donald Washington returned the ball to midfield and might have gone all the way if McCoy hadn’t tracked him down on the sideline to save the TD.

Smith made quick work from there, hitting Gonzalez three times on the short drive. The last was a 14-yard touchdown after the receiver escaped cornerback Brandon Foster, one of the players Texas used to replace the suspended starter Tarell Brown.

“That was the biggest momentum shifter in the game for our defense,” Ohio State defensive end David Patterson said.

McCoy led the Longhorns to their only TD with a 13-play drive, twice taking vicious hits from Buckeye pass rushers, including a shot to the head from defensive end Jay Richardson that drew a flag. The quarterback popped up and waved his arms to pump up the crowd, then fired a 7-yard TD pass to Pittman.

SPECIAL FEATURE Top tandems to watch in college football

Smith hit Gonzalez with a long gain, then floated a perfect 29-yard TD pass to Ginn, who slipped behind Aaron Ross and didn’t have to break stride as the ball dropped in over his shoulder in the end zone to make it 14-7 at halftime.

Ginn, who had only two catches against the Longhorns last season, swung the momentum back to Ohio State with the TD.

McCoy made a rookie mistake when he was intercepted by James Laurinaitis, one of the Buckeyes’ new starting linebackers, replacing A.J. Hawk and Co., on Texas’ first possession of the third.

The turnover led to Aaron Pettrey’s 31-yard field goal to make it 17-7.

It stayed that way until late in the fourth when Smith drove the Buckeyes 72 yards in 10 plays for Antonio Pittman’s 2-yard touchdown run that sealed No. 1 for Ohio State.

More news

Michael Conroy / AP

'Not facing any major ... violations'

CFT: Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith clarifies the confusion he created with his commments earlier this week.

Friends, fans mourn loss of Stewart

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Condolences streamed in from as far as Texas and Massachusetts as fans and friends gathered Thursday in Morgantown to pay tribute to former West Virginia University football coach Bill Stewart.

Headlines

• Label

CFT: Texas AD says Big 12 doesn't need to expand

CFT: Alabama-Michigan set for prime-time

CFT: Bolden reportedly won't leave Penn St.

CFT: Paterno’s state pension totals $13.4 million

PHT: Ex-Clemson RB Bellamy going to Miss. JC

CFT: Stewart, 59, dies of apparent heart attack

Judge refuses to delay Sandusky's trial

CFT: Boise St, Mtn. West send mixed messages