Texas Turns a 20-Point Hole Into a No. 1 Knockout
Arch Manning and Texas produced the weekend’s wildest college football comeback, rallying from a 23-3 deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 on September 12, 2026.
The Longhorns scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including Hollywood Smothers’ 1-yard plunge with 25 seconds left. Ohio State still had a chance to answer, but Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal, giving Texas the opening it needed to complete the escape.
For weekend sports highlights, this was the perfect recipe: a top-ranked favorite in control, a dramatic late collapse, and a result that immediately reshaped the national title conversation.
The Associated Press — https://apnews.com/article/b77928703d2e378f57773efb464f23c8
Oklahoma State Ends Oregon’s Long Winning Streak of Misery
Oklahoma State delivered the biggest upset of the early college football season, beating No. 6 Oregon 39-31 in Stillwater on September 12.
The Cowboys entered the game after losing 12 straight contests against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, while Oregon was favored by more than three touchdowns. Instead, Oklahoma State piled up 554 yards and controlled the tempo from the opening possessions.
The result was more than a surprise score. It was a momentum-changing performance that sent Oregon tumbling in the rankings and turned Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker into one of the weekend’s most discussed names.
The Associated Press — https://apnews.com/article/c1ad5adbf317ecbee2c0ed668fd918cd
Detroit Nearly Gave Away a Three-Touchdown Lead — Then Survived Overtime
The Detroit Lions escaped the New Orleans Saints 31-30 in overtime after surrendering a 21-point lead in one of the NFL’s most chaotic Week 1 finishes on September 13.
Jahmyr Gibbs powered Detroit’s extra-period drive with a career-high 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Amon-Ra St. Brown finished the opening overtime possession with a score. New Orleans answered with a touchdown but failed to convert the game-winning two-point try.
That final decision became the emotional center of the game: the Saints had completed an extraordinary comeback, but one incomplete pass left Detroit celebrating and New Orleans staring at what might have been.
NFL.com — https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-nfl-season-week-1-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-games
USA Survives France, Then Pulls Away for Another World Title
Team USA overcame an early 14-point deficit to beat France 97-79 in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup final in Berlin on September 13.
France made the Americans work early, but USA’s defense and depth changed the game after halftime. The victory delivered the program’s fifth consecutive World Cup title and its 12th overall, extending one of the strongest championship runs in international basketball.
The reaction online centered on the turnaround: what looked like a possible upset became another emphatic USA finish, making the final one of the weekend’s biggest basketball talking points.
FIBA Basketball — https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-2026/news/usa-continue-dominance-with-12th-fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-title
Manchester Derby Winner Arrives With a VAR Asterisk
Erling Haaland’s 60th-minute goal gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 13, but the scoreline was quickly overshadowed by officiating debate.
The match featured Phil Foden’s first-half red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes and a lengthy VAR review before Haaland’s winner was allowed to stand. Critics argued that Enzo Fernández appeared to interfere from an offside position, while the Premier League’s match centre later explained why the goal was considered valid.
The result kept City close to Arsenal near the top of the table, but the post-match conversation belonged to the officials, the review process, and the players’ visible frustration.
Premier League Match Centre — https://www.premierleague.com/ar/news/4713977/matchweek-4-var-decisions-explained
Weekend Sports Highlights Were Defined by Late Nerve
Across college football, the NFL, international basketball, and global soccer, the biggest stories shared one theme: the game was not over when it looked over. Texas erased a 20-point deficit, Detroit survived its own collapse, USA flipped a shaky start into a title win, and Manchester City took a derby decided as much by VAR as by Haaland’s finish.
Editorial summary based on cited game reports