Cam Coleman didn’t spend much time pretending the Week 2 trip to Ohio State is just another game.
The Texas wide receiver, a 5-star transfer, made it clear he’s looking forward to the matchup and respects what the Buckeyes bring to the table. Asked about the Sept. 12 showdown, Coleman kept it simple: “It’s going to be a fun game, I’m looking forward to it.”
That’s enough to get people thinking about the part everyone wants to see anyway: Coleman against Jeremiah Smith.
Ohio State and Texas are headed for a game loaded with talent, and the receiver matchup alone gives it serious juice. Smith enters the season with big goals of his own, including winning the natty and beating Michigan, while he and Julian Sayin will also be trying to make an early statement against the Longhorns.
The betting line adds another layer. According to the FanDuel sportsbook, Texas is favored by 1.5 points, which makes Ohio State a slight underdog heading into the matchup. That kind of setup is the sort of thing that can light a fire under Ryan Day and his team.
Coleman’s own path makes this even more interesting. He is trying to get his college career moving in the right direction after things didn’t quite work out at Auburn. He was a highly touted portal addition, and Alabama fans had hoped he would land with Kalen DeBoer, but Steve Sarkisian and Texas won that recruiting battle.
The idea of Coleman and Arch Manning working together is enough to make opposing defensive coordinators uneasy, and Matt Patricia will be tasked with sorting out what happens when Week 2 arrives. Slowing Coleman down won’t be simple, and Texas will have the same problem trying to contain Smith.
If both receivers get rolling, this one could be electric. And at least one prediction already has it ending with a 27-24 Ohio State win.
In Other News...
Former Michigan Star Just Fed Ohio State Fans A Matt Patricia Debate
Jake Butts stop at Ohio State practice offered Buckeyes fans a little extra perspective from an unlikely source. The former Michigan tight end, now a Big Ten Network analyst, came away impressed enough to say the 2026 Ohio State team still has the kind of talent to stay among the nations best, even with several key players gone to the draft and a defense that has to reload in a few spots.
The part that will get debated in Columbus is Butts read on Matt Patricia, because he tied the Buckeyes continued defensive success to the coordinators impact. For a program that measures everything against championship standards, that kind of praise from a former rival is one more sign that the expectation level remains high even as Ohio State turns the page to a new group. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States No. 2 Receiver Battle Has A New Name To Watch
The race to become Ohio States second receiving option behind Jeremiah Smith has a new face in the mix, and Devin McCuin is making enough noise in fall camp to force his way into the conversation. The UTSA transfer has brought experience and polished route-running to a group that is still sorting itself out, and those traits have helped him stand out as the Buckeyes look for a reliable complement to their primary target.
McCuins camp momentum has given him a leg up on some of the younger receivers trying to climb the depth chart, even if nothing is settled yet. With playing time still up for grabs, his fit in the offense is worth watching because Ohio State could use a steady presence opposite Smith, especially if McCuin keeps showing the kind of consistency that has gotten him noticed so far. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States New Offense Could Make Julian Sayin Even Tougher To Stop
Ohio State is heading into the new season with a different kind of edge on offense, as Arthur Smith reportedly leans into a more controlled approach that could change the way the Buckeyes operate. The core up front remains largely intact, and with much of the offensive line and tight end depth back in place, there is a sense that the unit is being built to be steadier, cleaner and harder to disrupt from snap to snap.
Julian Sayin has already been part of the conversation around that shift, with the quarterback noting the offenses maturity as it takes shape. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has seen the adjustments from the other side of the ball, and the early signs suggest Ohio State is trying to pair that stability with more efficiency. If the structure holds, Sayin may be asked to do less to make the offense dangerous, which is often when a quarterback becomes the toughest to stop. [Read more 🡒]