For the third straight season, the Ohio State football team will take on the Texas Longhorns. In the first two matchups, the Buckeyes took down the Longhorns, including once in the College Football Playoff. Last season, they beat Texas in the Shoe 14-7 in the first game of the year.
Last season showcased Arch Manning as the starting quarterback for Texas. Heading into the 2025 season, every mock draft had him projected to be the number-one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, the Ohio State Buckeyes shut him down and making him look like a backup.
Manning continued to play poorly and decided to return to Texas for his senior season. Now, The Athletic is once again projecting Manning to be the top overall pick. For the second consecutive year, Ohio State has a chance to shut that down at the start of the year.
Ohio State football has a shot to crush Arch Manning's dreams again
A strong finish to Texas's season is likely why Manning is getting this love. Yet, Julian Sayin, who was a Heisman Finalist last season, isn't getting the same love. He isn't even projected to go in the first round in The Athletic's way-too-early 2027 mock draft.
Sayin has a chance to completely flip that narrative in Austin, as well. This will be the second game of the year for both teams, so the Buckeyes can show that Sayin is actually the guy everyone should be paying attention to instead of Manning. Shutting down the Texas offense again would show how overrated Manning is.
Matt Patricia's defense will be extra motivated to clamp down on Manning's passing opportunities. Despite having to replace three first-round picks, Ohio State should be loaded on defense again. If Manning can't move the ball on this defense, questions will start popping up again.
A win in Austin early in the season would also quiet a lot of the naysayers around Ohio State's ceiling this year. That's what they will be shooting for.
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