Texas' stunning comeback against Ohio State highlights best and worst of Arch Manning

The Texas Longhorns did everything they could to lose Saturday's showdown against No. 1 Ohio State. For three quarters, it looked like they were going to do exactly that, and in a convincing, embarrassing fashion. 

But thanks to a 21-point fourth quarter, Texas was able to erase a 20-point deficit and stun the top-ranked Buckeyes in a 24-23 win. It is already one of the best games of the young college football season, and will almost certainly be Texas' signature win of the season.

The subplot to the game itself is the same as it always is for Texas, and it is the performance of starting quarterback Arch Manning.

It was yet another example of seeing what you want to see when it comes to his play. 

If you are a Manning believer, you saw the very best of what he can do in orchestrating the fourth-quarter comeback.

If you are a Manning skeptic or critic, you saw the flaws that still very much exist in his game with pretty much everything that came before that.

Texas' stunning comeback against Ohio State highlights best and worst of Arch Manning

Looking at Manning's numbers for the game, it would be very easy to call it a pedestrian performance. He finished 23-of-37 for 196 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Fine numbers against the No. 1-ranked team, but nothing overly impressive. 

But that only tells a small fraction of the story. 

He made a lot of big plays in the fourth quarter, and some big-time, big-money throws with the game on the line, including on a couple of fourth downs. 

He also had some comical bad luck early in the game when this pass, which looked to be a huge gain for Texas, inexplicably turned into an interception.