The Texas-Ohio State showdown was a do-or-die situation for the Longhorns. They were the last team standing in their conference, and a win was crucial to keep their championship dreams alive. The pressure was immense, and every play mattered. But then things took a wild turn.
Suddenly, Matthew Golden, their key player, disappeared from the field. And this sudden and unexpected vanishing act left everyone baffled, scratching their heads. Was he injured? Well, the mystery surrounding his absence added another layer of drama to an already intense game.

Unfortunately, Texas Longhorns star receiver Matthew Golden suffered a foot injury early in the Cotton Bowl while playing against Ohio State. His day took a rough turn early on as he limped off the field, heading to the locker room. Following Texas’ second drive, he briefly returned, only to get flagged for a facemask penalty while blocking.

Golden had already been in the injury tent earlier and eventually left the game for good. This left Texas without its star receiver just as things were heating up.

On top of that, the facemask penalty came during a block where Golden accidentally grabbed an Ohio State defender’s mask, drawing a flag. But the bigger issue isn’t the penalty—it’s Texas missing their top offensive weapon. Golden, who returned to the sideline with both ankles taped and no helmet, signaled to trainers that he wasn’t ready to come back. He didn’t rejoin the offense on their next drive.

Before his exit, Golden made his mark with a 24-yard catch on Texas’ first drive, showing why he’s been the Longhorns’ leading receiver this season. His absence left a significant gap in the offense, and while he was on the sidelines supporting his team, it’s clear his playmaking ability was missed.

Matthew Golden is a standout player in Sark’s army

Well, Matthew Golden’s been making waves all season. Before entering their game against the Buckeyes, Matthew entered the game with 56 receptions, 936 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Now you know why he is a proven game-changer for the Longhorns. With his ability to turn every catch into a big play, fans can’t get enough of his impact on the field. Moreover, even Steve Sarkisian couldn’t resist praising Matthew for his exceptional gameplay and supporting Quinn Ewers in the game.

Sarkisian said, “You earn trust with consistency and time. I think there’s a level of consistency in Matthew’s game that he’s earned a lot of trust from myself and Quinn that in a lot of critical moments it’s easy to try to find him because you know he’s going to be in the right spot, you know he’s going to be competitively tough, and you know he’s going to make those plays.” This shows that Matthew’s been so solid that both Steve and Quinn know they can count on him in clutch moments. Matthew Golden is one of those guys who is always in the right spot, tough as nails, and making big plays when it counts.

Matthew Golden has been exceptional for the Longhorns. In their thrilling 39-31 double-overtime victory over Arizona State, he recorded a game-high 149 receiving yards and a touchdown on just seven catches. Additionally, he showcased his skills with eight catches for 162 yards in the SEC Championship against Georgia. But in the semis? Things went south for the Longhorns. Golden got hurt, and Ohio State absolutely demolished them 28-14, crushing their natty dreams.