Scarlet and Game
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Texas given an obvious advantage right before kickoff with Ohio State football

As if the number-one team in the country needed any advantages, they will have a big one in the Shoe.
ByRyan Stano|
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) and Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) and Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (7) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Ohio State football team is almost done preparing for the epic showdown against Texas in the Shoe on Saturday afternoon. It should be a great day for football, and it's by far the biggest opening game in the Shoe. The number-one team in the country has revenge on its mind, as well.

After the Ohio State Buckeyes took down the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl last year, Texas has had this game circled on its calendar. They have a very talented team and are the number-one-ranked team in the country for a reason. They don't need any outside advantages to help them win this game.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Texas is getting a pretty massive advantage before even stepping foot in the Shoe. Perhaps that will make up for the fact that their left tackle will have a cast on his hand as he attempts to play this game.

SEC officials will referee the Ohio State football vs. Texas game

Despite this game being played in Big Ten country, SEC officials will be on site for this game. They couldn't even bring in ACC or Big 12 officials to have a neutral party.

This is a pretty big advantage for Texas to have, especially with how poorly the referees called Buckeye games a year ago. They didn't have a single holding call called against them until the College Football Playoff. I wouldn't expect that to happen much on Saturday, either.

If they were going to have officials from one of these conferences for this game, it would have made sense for the Big Ten to have refs in the Shoe instead of SEC officials traveling North. That won't be the case, so fans better be ready for some bad calls against the Buckeyes in their own stadium.

Ohio State is a talented enough team that it shouldn't need to worry about how the refs call the game. They have enough talent on offense that they should be able to execute their game plan against a very good Texas team. The refs shouldn't be the deciding factor in this game.

Still, this is something that could have been avoided. Both fan bases would have been fine with an officiating crew from a neutral conference doing this game. Instead, it seems like Texas is going to get more of the benefit of the doubt with 50/50 calls than the Buckeyes will.

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