The Scarlet and Gray

[ShireNiner]

Go Arch

Arch about to get slapped. He's more like MJ's kids than his uncles.

[toysoldier00]

Game Preview: No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State — A Heavyweight Rematch to Open the 2025 Season
By Zachary Anderson on August 29, 2025





Opening weekend rarely gives us stakes like these. No easing into the season. No tune-up games. Instead, the first game of the 2025 college football year brings a rematch of last season’s playoff semifinal, a meeting between the preseason No. 1 teams in both major polls, and two programs that believe, without hesitation, they can win the national title.

No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State. Fox. Big Noon Kickoff. The Horseshoe.

The Longhorns arrive as the AP’s top-ranked team. The Buckeyes, fresh off a national championship, are No. 1 in the Coaches Poll. It’s the first chapter of a two-year home-and-home, and the stage could not be bigger.

“It’s what you hope for in college football,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Thursday. “Two elite programs, opening weekend, both fan bases at full strength. You find out a lot about your team very quickly.”

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t downplay it either.

“Games like this tell you exactly where you stand,” Sarkisian said. “It’s a tremendous challenge for us, and a tremendous opportunity.”

Quarterbacks in the Spotlight
Both teams will unveil new starting quarterbacks, though both passers arrive with the weight of significant expectations.

For Texas, Arch Manning gets his first start as the unquestioned QB1, stepping into the spotlight that has trailed him since high school. He threw for 939 yards and nine touchdowns last season in relief of Quinn Ewers, but those appearances came in the comfort of a home crowd. Saturday will be his first time walking into a place like Ohio Stadium with 110,000 fans aimed squarely at him.

Manning’s physical gifts have never been in question. His command of Sarkisian’s offense will determine how much the Longhorns can lean on him in his first full-time outing.

Ohio State counters with Julian Sayin, the second-year quarterback who won the Buckeyes’ job in the final weeks of fall camp. Sayin is poised, accurate, and processed Ryan Day’s offense quickly, traits that helped him outlast challenger Lincoln Kienholz.

He’ll make his first career start against a defense stacked with NFL-caliber talent.

“Julian has earned this,” Day said. “We trust him. But he knows he doesn’t have to do everything. He just has to run the offense.”

Playmakers Everywhere
Few matchups in Week 1 can match the raw star power of this one. Ohio State boasts the best offensive player in the sport in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who produced 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman. He’ll line up against a Texas secondary led by Malik Muhammad, one of the country’s most talented cornerbacks.

Across from Smith, Ohio State rolls out junior Carnell Tate, expected to take the jump into high round NFL draft pick territory, and Purdue transfer tight end Max Klare, who is coming off an excellent season with the Boilermakers.

Texas counters with a trio of dynamic running backs, Quintrevion Wisner, CJ Baxter Jr., and Jerrick Gibson, plus explosive receivers DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Wingo, whose 4.3 speed makes him one of the fastest players in college football.

Defensively, Texas features two preseason All-Americans in linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and edge rusher Colin Simmons (Pictured Right), whose combination of speed and length gives him the potential to disrupt any offense. Safety Michael Taaffe, corner Malik Muhammad, linebacker Trey Moore, and safety Jelani McDonald round out one of the nation’s deepest units.

Ohio State brings far less returning experience but retains its most important piece: Caleb Downs, widely viewed as the best defensive player in college football. The Buckeyes also return linebacker Sonny Styles and corner Davison Igbinosun, while new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is expected to lean on emerging talents such as linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive ends Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry, as well as North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson.

Coaching, Continuity, and Context
Day enters his seventh full season at Ohio State coming off a championship, though the staff transitions were significant. Brian Hartline becomes the full-time playcaller, and Patricia steps in to replace Jim Knowles. Texas, meanwhile, returns both coordinators, Kyle Flood on offense and Pete Kwiatkowski on defense, which gives the Longhorns unusual continuity for a team with a new starting quarterback.

Home-field advantage tilts toward Ohio State. A noon start in Columbus doesn’t carry the same mystique as a primetime blackout, but a young quarterback making his first road start in front of a crowd this size is no easy task.

Texas knows that reality well.

“Ohio Stadium is as tough as it gets,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll find out how quickly Arch settles in.”

Final Thoughts
There are matchups where weaknesses define the preview. This one isn’t that. These are two of the three best teams in the country. The margin will be thin, the swings sharp, and the stars everywhere.

Last January, Ohio State made the defining plays in the fourth quarter. This time? The only certainty is that the stakes feel just as high, and the season hasn’t even begun.

Kickoff is noon. The country will be watching.

[toysoldier00]

HFA against #1 Tex, should be a good game

Unbelieavbly fun way to start the dynasty, but I'll be honest, in future years I want to have a game or two to get to know my team before the big one

Go Tigers

You're gonna have to be more specific

This could really set the tone for you guys. A nice resume booster and probably a turning point for becoming the favorites to bring home the Natty.

Definitely. Huge early game.

Arch about to get slapped. He's more like MJ's kids than his uncles.

[toysoldier00]

Ohio State 31, Texas 13: Buckeyes Open Season With a Statement Win Over No. 1 Longhorns
By Zachary Anderson on August 30, 2025


Brandon Inniss' 80-Yard Punt Return Early in the 2nd Quarter Gave the Buckeyes a Huge Early Advantage



Ohio State doesn’t ease into seasons anymore. Not when the Buckeyes open against the No. 1 team in the country. Not when the memories of last year’s national championship are still fresh. And not when a true sophomore quarterback is making his first career start against a defense littered with future pros. But inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Buckeyes didn’t just survive that challenge. They handled it. Ohio State beat Texas 31–13 in a rematch of last season’s playoff semifinal, delivering a disciplined, physical, and occasionally explosive performance that showed a team still very capable of controlling games even after massive roster turnover.

The story began with the quarterback matchup, Arch Manning, the most hyped quarterback prospect of the era, making his first career road start, and Julian Sayin, the former five-star quarterback recruit, finally taking the reins of the Ohio State offense. Early on, Sayin looked steadier. After a tense opening quarter filled with field position battles and cautious playcalling from both sides, Sayin delivered the first major strike with 1:51 left in the first quarter. He found Jeremiah Smith on a back-shoulder throw for a 13-yard touchdown, the kind of timing-and-trust play that suggested Sayin was settling into the moment faster than his Texas counterpart. Day praised the young quarterback afterward, saying, “Julian looked calm. He’s got a natural feel to him. That first touchdown: that’s who he is.”


The Buckeyes Opened the Scoring in the First Quarter via a Jeremiah Smith Touchdown

Things escalated quickly from there. On the second play of the next quarter, Brandon Inniss fielded a punt, found a crease, and exploded for an 80-yard touchdown return that jolted the crowd into a frenzy. Suddenly, Ohio State led 14-0, and Texas, despite playing reasonably well defensively, found itself asking its inexperienced quarterback to win the game on the road. To his credit, Arch Manning responded. On the next drive, he scrambled for a first down on 4th-and-3, made several tight-window throws, and eventually hit Ryan Wingo on a five-yard touchdown to cut the deficit in half. It was the kind of possession that hinted at the quarterback Texas believes it has. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian praised his QB afterward, saying, “Arch battled. He didn’t shy away from the stage. We just didn’t give him enough help.”

From that point, the Ohio State defense settled in. Manning remained composed, but Texas struggled to run the ball and couldn’t create enough explosive plays. Meanwhile, Sayin continued to gain confidence and composure. With 3:26 left in the half, Ohio State mounted the kind of drive championship teams produce. Twelve plays, the entire remaining clock, and a perfectly executed 3rd-and-7 conversion from Sayin to Max Klare that kept the march alive. James Peoples capped it with a five-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7 at halftime. Day called it “the drive of the game,” noting how Sayin “executed exactly the way we needed him to in that moment.”

Texas opened the second half with flashes of offensive life. Manning converted three crucial third downs, a 19-yard pass to Jack Endries, an 18-yard strike to Wingo, and a 25-yard scramble that gashed the Buckeyes up the middle. But Ohio State stiffened in the red zone, forcing a field goal to keep the lead at 21-10. The tension heightened moments later when Texas star edge rusher Colin Simmons took over the game for a brief stretch. On back-to-back plays, Simmons sacked Sayin on first down and strip-sacked him on second down, giving Texas prime field position. Sarkisian said afterward, “Colin is as advertised. He’s one of the best players in the country.” But even after winning the turnover battle 2-1, Texas still couldn’t break Ohio State’s defense. The Buckeyes forced another field goal, making it 21-13 and keeping control of the game.

The knockout blow came early in the fourth quarter. Sayin, needing to respond, delivered his most mature drive of the afternoon. On third down, he fired a 15-yard strike to Jeremiah Smith. Later, he found true freshman running back Bo Jackson on a key third down that went for 25 yards. CJ Donaldson finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run, and with 8:58 left, Ohio State led 28-13. Sayin later said, “We practiced that drive all week. Execute, execute, execute. That’s what Coach Day tells us.”

Texas had one final chance, but with 5:27 remaining, Arch Manning tried to force a ball over the middle. Caleb Downs, the best safety in America, read it perfectly and sliced in front for the interception that effectively ended the game. Downs, who finished with eight tackles, a TFL and the game-sealing pick, said afterward, “We wanted to show people we weren’t taking a step back. We lost a lot, but we didn’t lose who we are.” A late field goal by Jayden Fielding pushed the score to 31-13, and Ohio State’s sideline began celebrating a season-opening win over the No. 1 team in the country, defeating the Longhorns for the second straight year.

The box score reflected the on-field reality. Ohio State outgained Texas 354-219, ran 17 more plays, produced 26 first downs to Texas’ 13, converted 9 of 14 third downs compared to Texas’ 5 of 14, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry while holding Texas to just 1.6. The Longhorns’ vaunted trio of running backs combined for only 12 carries and 22 yards. Star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. had 10 tackles, and Colin Simmons wreaked havoc on one drive, but Ohio State’s offensive line generally kept Sayin clean and in rhythm.


Starting Linebacker Arvell Reese was Explosive in Ohio State's 31-13 Victory, Recording a Sack, Pass Deflection, and Eight Tackles

Sayin finished 29/41 for 229 yards, one touchdown, two turnovers, and added 29 rushing yards, including a surprising 35-yard scramble that Day joked “was not something we necessarily had on the call sheet.” Jeremiah Smith delivered a reminder of his greatness with nine catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Carnell Tate, Inniss, Klare, Donaldson and Peoples all played key roles in sustaining drives. On defense, new starters Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Arvell Reese and Caden Curry each recorded sacks, and Reese added a crucial pass breakup on third down to stall a Texas drive in the third quarter.

For Texas, Manning’s performance — 22/35 for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception — was steady but limited by the lack of run support. Wingo led the Longhorn receiving corps with 82 yards and a score. Sarkisian admitted afterward that “Ohio State out-executed us. They were better on third down, better in the red zone, better running the football. That’s how you win big games.”

And that’s what this game ultimately was: Ohio State winning the moments that matter. Winning third downs. Winning red zone trips. Winning the line of scrimmage. Winning field position. Winning the final minutes of each half.

Sayin summed it up best. “We learned a lot about ourselves today,” he said. “And we’re just getting started.”

For the Buckeyes, this wasn’t a perfect performance. But it was a powerful one, the kind that keeps championship aspirations intact, that calms doubts about new starters, and that reinforces Ohio State’s place among the elite programs in the sport. Texas will regroup, likely remain a playoff contender, and continue to grow with Manning. But in Columbus, the message was unmistakable.

Ohio State still looks like Ohio State.

Qtr	Time	Team	Result	Play	OSU	TEX
1st	1:47		TD	Jeremiah Smith 13-Yd pass from Julian Sayin	7	0
2nd	12:07		TD	Brandon Inniss, returned punt 80 Yds	14	0
2nd	7:08		TD	Ryan Wingo 5-Yd pass from Arch Manning	14	7
2nd	0:41		TD	James Peoples, 5 Yd run	21	7
3rd	7:31		FG	Mason Shipley, 29 Yd FG	21	10
3rd	0:15		FG	Mason Shipley, 35 Yd FG	21	13
4th	8:58		TD	CJ Donaldson, 3 Yd run	28	13
4th	0:39		FG	Jayden Fielding, 23 Yd FG	31	13

[Captain Canada]

Goddamn right! Horns down

[ShireNiner]

Great way to start the season, I enjoyed the write up. Nice to see Arch brought back to reality and Texas shown the Big Ten is no place to mess around. Now it's time to run the table until The Game and then see what happens.

[toysoldier00]

Goddamn right! Horns down

Great way to start the season, I enjoyed the write up. Nice to see Arch brought back to reality and Texas shown the Big Ten is no place to mess around. Now it's time to run the table until The Game and then see what happens.

[six7]

no reason why we can’t go undefeated now

[Soapy]

the fact that Texas was ever No. 1 is hilarious

also, go ahead and force that Miami win over Notre Dame for ya boy

[The JZA]

I should be surprised Texas got cook'd that bad, but I'm not since it's Ohio State doing the cookin'

also, go ahead and force that Miami win over Notre Dame for ya boy

It's BTA for Miami for the life cycle of CFB 26