ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Longhorns faced a challenging defeat against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Friday night, and a pivotal player was unable to contribute fully due to injury concerns. Leading receiver Matthew Golden experienced foot problems that limited his participation significantly during the crucial matchup.

Golden initially showcased his remarkable skill by making an impressive one-handed catch on Texas’s opening possession, successfully converting a third down. He recorded one more catch later in the game, a 27-yard reception during a drive that saw the Longhorns threaten at the Ohio State 1-yard line, before the Buckeyes clinched the victory with a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, finalizing the score at 28-14.

According to reports from the Texas radio network, Golden was examined in the medical tent early in the first quarter due to his foot issue. He managed to return to the field at the beginning of the second quarter, but his comeback was short-lived as he committed a facemask penalty while blocking on a short pass play. Shortly after Texas had to punt, Golden was seen heading down the tunnel towards the locker room again. He appeared on the sidelines before half time but did not play a significant role in the game thereafter, only being targeted as a receiver on an incompletion during a third down early in the fourth quarter.

For the season, Golden wrapped up with an impressive tally of 58 receptions, amassing 987 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. His contributions were critical for the Longhorns throughout the season, but the injury during the playoff game hindered his ability to perform at his best when it was most needed.