Saturday’s Ohio State-Texas showdown is loaded with star power, and the game may come down to which side wins the battles inside the battle. With 14 draft picks, four College Football Playoff appearances and 10 First-Team All-Americans spread across the rosters, there’s no shortage of high-end talent on the field when the Buckeyes head to Texas for their first major test of the season.
The headline names are obvious. Ohio State replaced 11 starters from last year’s team and has leaned on the transfer portal and its own development pipeline to build out the next wave.
Texas, meanwhile, brings back key pieces like quarterback Arch Manning and edge rusher Colin Simmons, while also adding transfer help in wide receiver Cam Coleman, running back Hollywood Smothers and linebacker Rasheem Biles. On paper, the gap between these teams is basically nonexistent.
That’s why the matchups matter so much. And a few of them jump out right away.
One of the most intriguing pairings is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs against Texas quarterback Arch Manning. These two already met in last year’s early-season game, and both are aiming to deliver a performance that boosts their NFL stock heading toward next April.
Downs was busy in his first start a year ago, finishing with eight tackles. Manning had a rough outing overall, with one highlight - a beautiful touchdown pass to former Texas wideout Parker Livingstone - standing out above the rest.
This time, the passing game figures to be more active, and that puts Downs in the middle of the action. He’s the back end of the Ohio State defense, the one charged with helping shut down the deep ball.
Coleman and returning receiver Ryan Wingo both bring serious speed, and Texas should take some shots downfield. That gives Downs a real chance to make impact plays, flip possessions and put himself in position for one of his best games as a Buckeye.
Another matchup worth circling is Kenyatta Jackson Jr. against Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Goosby. Jackson Jr. has the kind of size-speed blend that can wreck a game, but Goosby is built to handle the challenge.
A three-year starter and a projected top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL draft, Goosby has already shown he can protect Manning’s blindside. At 6-foot-7, he presents a massive obstacle for Jackson Jr., who is still searching for the kind of breakout game that matches the offseason hype.
Jackson Jr. opened with three tackles against Ball State, along with half a tackle for loss and no sacks. For a senior defensive end expected to take a big step this season, Saturday offers the kind of stage where he can show why people were talking about him all offseason. Ohio State needs pressure on Manning, and this is the matchup that could shape whether it gets it.
Then there’s the receiver-cornerback showdown that has the feel of a classic. Texas wideout Cam Coleman is the name everyone will be watching, even with Ryan Wingo in the mix.
Coleman started his Texas career with 70 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the opener against Texas State, and he already looked connected with Manning. Wingo actually led the Longhorns with seven catches, but Coleman’s ability to turn a routine route into a 20-plus-yard gain makes him the more dangerous threat.
Ohio State’s cornerback tandem of Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Sanchez is one of the best in the country, and the Buckeyes will likely split those responsibilities between Coleman and Wingo. Still, Coleman is the one who can tilt the field in a hurry, which is exactly why this matchup stands out. All three players are chasing big seasons and All-American recognition, and all three had this one circled when camp opened.
If Saturday night delivers the kind of high-level football this matchup promises, these are the duels that will likely decide who walks out on top.
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