The Ohio State football team will take on Texas in the first game of the season. It will be a matchup of the top two ranked teams in the country, according to the Coaches Poll. Texas is ranked first in the country, while the Buckeyes sit at second. It will be the first time in history that there is a matchup in Week 1 with the top two ranked teams.
Coming into the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes felt really good about their chances to take down the Longhorns. They were able to beat them in the Cotton Bowl to advance to the national championship, which Ohio State would also go on to win.
They have to feel even better about their chances of winning the game after Texas received some devastating news on Monday when it comes to their offensive line. They learned that starting right tackle Andre Cojoe will miss the entire season due to a knee injury.
Ohio State football team has a better shot to beat Texas without Andre Cojoe
This is brutal news for the Longhorns, as Cojoe was expected to be the starter this season after playing four games last year. Now, the Longhorns will have to find another offensive lineman to take his spot just four weeks before they travel to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes.
Ohio State certainly doesn't feel good that Texas suffered an injury. You never want to see anyone go down with an injury, especially one as severe as that. The Buckeyes had two starting offensive linemen go down with season-ending injuries last year, so they know just how that feels.
As far as how this will affect the game on the field in Week 1, the Buckeyes should have a much easier time rushing the passer. The defensive line has been a concern since the Spring, so this might help a group that has struggled to shed blocks and get into the backfield.
Beau Atkinson, Caden Curry, and Kenyatta Jackson should all have an easier time obtaining sacks in this game. This injury certainly shakes up how the front four will attack Texas.