COLUMBUS, Ohio — Even though it’s the season opener for No. 1 Texas football, Saturday’s game against No. 3 Ohio State comes with plenty of high stakes.
With a win, Texas will solidify its spot atop the polls and claim a quality win that could prove invaluable come seeding time for the College Football Playoff.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) heads into the locker room while warming up ahead of the Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walks onto the field ahead of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Jimmy Lee, who drove from Dripping Springs, shows of his T-shirt in support of quarterback Arch Manning (16) as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up ahead of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up ahead of the Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian heads into the locker room after arriving at Ohio Stadium ahead of the Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Kent and Andrea Thompson, from Dallas, take a photo in front of the stadium as the Texas Longhorns prepare to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025. The Thompson are attending to support their nephew, offensive lineman Connor Stroh (79).
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Football fans walk through the tailgating area as the Texas Longhorns prepare to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Jonah Williams (9) warms up ahead of the Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns head onto the field to warm up ahead of their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) warms up ahead of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) take the field in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) takes the field in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Liona Lefau (18) celebrates a defensive play in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs the ball in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Jelani McDonald (4) brings down Ohio State Buckeyes running back James Peoples (20) in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) catches a snap in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes safety Jaylen McClain (18) makes a tackle in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Trevor Goosby (74) wears tape on his wrist as he warms up ahead of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) hands the ball off to Ohio State Buckeyes running back Anthony Rogers (21) in the first half of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Aug. 30, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
And a Texas victory would also give the team a smidgeon of vengeance for a wrenching 28-14 loss to Ohio State in last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal Jan. 10 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The game kicks off at 11 a.m. CT. from Ohio Stadium.
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Both Texas and the Buckeyes lost plenty from last season. Ohio State had 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, the most of any school. Texas watched a program-record 12 players get drafted. Those picks also included the two starting quarterbacks in last year’s CFP semifinal, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Texas’ Quinn Ewers.
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Arch Manning finally takes the reins of the Texas offense after two seasons of apprenticing behind Ewers — and managing unprecedented levels of hype. Texas’ defense again looks loaded with preseason AP All-Americans at every level.
But Ohio State, which has a 67-10 record over the past five seasons, has dropped just three home games in that same span. It welcomes back six offensive starters as well as a salty defense now led by longtime NFL assistant Matt Patricia.
Follow along for scores and live updates.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) snaps the ball during the game against Mississippi State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman
Arch Manning tries to find Ryan Wingo downfield, is late with the throw, and Jermaine Mathews picks it off for the game’s first turnover. Buckeye ball at their own 27-yard line.
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The Texas defense again holds and gives the offense good field position, but can the Longhorns do anything? They’ve only scored in single digits once during Steve Sarkisian’s tenure, and that was a 30-7 loss at Iowa State in his first season in 2021 that prompted assistant coach Bo Davis’ infamous tirade.
Texas puts together its best drive of the game, but Arch Manning gets stuffed at the 1-yard line on a fourth-and-goal from the one.The Longhorns ran the ball 11 times on the 15-play drive, but the Buckeye defense holds. Red-zone woes won’t go away for Steve Sarkisian and the Texas offense.
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It’s been a reality check for Arch Manning and the revamped Texas offense in one of the most challenging atmospheres in college football. The Longhorns have 79 total yards, and Manning is only 5-of-10 for 26 yards. The Texas defense has held the Buckeyes to 103 yards of offense, but it seems like it may need a takeaway or two to jumpstart the Texas offense.
Texas had Ohio State backed up at its own 2-yard line, but the Buckeyes muscle their way out of trouble before punting. Texas gets the ball back at its own 47-yard line, and this feels like a big drive for Texas and for Arch Manning.
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Ohio State’s offense finds some groove and breaks through on a fourth-down run by CJ Donaldson from the 1-yard line. Texas doesn’t help itself with some mistakes. A facemask on third down against Colin Simmons and a defensive holding by Malik Muhammad give the Buckeyes two first downs. Thirteen plays, 80 yards on the scoring drive.
As expected, it’s a slugfest. Each time has 50 yards of offense, and each new starting quarterback is having problems finding a rhythm. Arch Manning is just 3-of-5 for 13 yards and hasn’t taken a shot downfield for Texas while Ohio State’s Julian Sayin is 3-of-6 for 33 yards.
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The teams trade possessions, and it feels like a heavyweight fight. As promised by head coach Steve Sarkisian, Texas is using a lot of players on defense. Cole Brevard and Hero Kanu have come in at tackle, freshman Graceson Littleton has seen action at star, and Trey Moore and Liona Lefau have each lined up at weakside linebacker.
Texas gets its own fourth-down stop at midfield after Ohio State tries to convert a fourth-and-1. Max Klare can’t handle the pass from Julian Sayin, and Texas takes over at its own 45. One lineup note: Maraad Watson and Alex January start at defensive tackle for Texas, and Jelani McDonald starts at star.
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The Longhorns convert one fourth-down play on the opening drive, but CJ Baxter is stopped for 1 yard on a fourth-and-2. Ohio State takes over at its own 42 yard line. One note for the starting lineup: Connor Stroh started at left guard for Texas instead of Neto Umeozulu.
Texas will get the ball first. Jelani McDonald and Quintrevion Wisner are back for the Longhorns.
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The game will start at 11:15 p.m. CT after an extended pregame pick by ESPN television personality Lee Corso, who is making his final appearance on ESPN’s Gameday after 38 years.
Left tackle Trevor Goosby has participated in all the pregame warmups and does not have a cast on either hand. A report by 247Sports earlier this week said Goosby had surgery on a hand and was questionable entering the game, but a Texas official denied that report. Goosby, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound redshirt sophomore, is taking over for the departed all-American Kelvin Banks.
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Where: Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
TV/radio: Fox, 1300, 98.1, 105.3 (Spanish)
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Line: Ohio State is favored by 1½ points.
The game will be playing in Columbus in central Ohio. Expcet football weather in August with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s at kickoff and low 70s by the final whistle.
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