Texas quarterback Arch Manning and the Longhorns will face Ohio State on Saturday night in a rematch of last season's Week 1 game. The Longhorns are 1.5-point favorites in the matchup at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
Last season, Texas struggled offensively, managing only seven points against Ohio State. This performance set a challenging tone for their season, despite Manning improving in the latter half. This year, the Longhorns have bolstered their roster with additions such as running backs Raleek Brown from Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers from NC State, alongside Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, a projected top-10 NFL draft pick. These acquisitions aim to strengthen the run game and support Manning.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have seen five defensive players selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. Questions remain about how new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's unit will perform against a high-caliber offense early in the season. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin demonstrated efficiency in Week 1, but concerns linger about the team's play-calling conservatism from the previous season, especially in high-stakes games. The Buckeyes will need to adapt their strategy to keep pace with a potentially potent Texas offense in a hostile environment.
The betting line suggests a close contest, with oddsmakers deeming it a difficult game to predict. The New York Post has identified "Texas moneyline (-120)" as its recommended bet for the game.