The wait is over, and college football’s season could not start with more fireworks. In one of the most-hyped openers in recent memory, No. 1 Texas travels to Columbus to take on defending national champion and No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday. It’s a meeting steeped in history, pressure, and the highest of expectations for two programs that rarely shy away from the spotlight.
This will be the fifth meeting all-time between Texas and Ohio State. In three of the previous four matchups, the winner went on to play for the national championship, underscoring the stakes any time these titans collide. The last encounter came just 232 days ago in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, where the Buckeyes surged in the second half to claim a 28-14 win. That game served as a showcase of NFL-ready talent—26 players from that clash were selected in April’s draft, including 14 Buckeyes and 12 Longhorns.
The roster turnover has left both sides reloading rather than rebuilding. Just 17 of the 44 combined starters on offense and defense return, meaning Saturday’s game will showcase fresh playmakers under the brightest of spotlights.
For Texas, the face of the program is clear: Arch Manning. The sophomore quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender will make just his third career start but enters the season as the centerpiece of a Texas offense with championship aspirations. Manning saw limited action in 2023, even making a brief appearance against Ohio State in the semifinal, where he showcased his mobility with an 8-yard carry. Now, all eyes are on him as he guides the Longhorns into Ohio Stadium.
But Manning isn’t the only playmaker wearing burnt orange. Sophomore receiver Ryan Wingo, who caught 29 passes for 472 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, is poised for a breakout year. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Wingo brings physicality and speed that could test Ohio State’s retooled secondary.
Ohio State counters with one of the nation’s most-hyped young stars: wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The freshman phenom has drawn comparisons to past Buckeye greats and will be the primary target for new quarterback Julian Sayin. Sayin, a sophomore, will be making his first career start, following in the footsteps of past first-time starters under head coach Ryan Day such as Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Kyle McCord. If history is any indication, Sayin could be in line for an explosive debut—Day’s first-time starters have averaged nearly 4,000 passing yards with 40 touchdowns in their first full seasons.
While the offenses have drawn the headlines, Saturday may ultimately be decided by which defense adjusts quicker to its new pieces.
Ohio State’s defense now belongs to coordinator Matt Patricia, who inherits a group with just three returning starters. Safety Caleb Downs, one of the top draft prospects for 2025, anchors the secondary, but the defensive line faces questions with four new starters.
Texas brings back six starters on defense but lost key playmakers in the secondary, most notably Jim Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Jahdae Barron. Replacing Barron’s lockdown presence will be no small task against an Ohio State receiving corps that has made a habit of producing NFL talent.
If there’s a stat that underlines Texas’ confidence heading into Columbus, it’s this: the Longhorns have won 11 consecutive true road games, including five against ranked opponents. They’ve beaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Texas A&M in College Station. The last time Texas lost on an opponent’s home field was in October 2022 at Oklahoma State.
Still, Ohio Stadium presents a different kind of challenge. The Buckeyes have won 19 straight home openers and are 23-1 in Week 1 under their last three head coaches.
This game will be just the fourth time the AP’s preseason No. 1 team faces the defending national champion in the season opener. The last time was in 1988, when Miami stunned No. 1 Florida State with a 31-0 shutout.
For Texas, it’s the program’s first time entering a season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, despite making 50 total appearances at the top spot in poll history. For Ohio State, it’s a chance to begin a title defense by knocking off the nation’s top-ranked team in front of a home crowd hungry for another championship run.
This matchup has all the makings of an instant classic. Texas brings the nation’s top ranking, a star quarterback in Arch Manning, and a battle-tested road résumé. Ohio State counters with the confidence of a reigning champion, a future star in Jeremiah Smith, and the next quarterback in Ryan Day’s remarkable lineage.
With history suggesting the winner could once again play for the national title, Saturday night in Columbus is more than just a season opener—it’s a defining moment.
