Ohio State walks into Week 2 as a slight underdog, with Texas installed as a 1.5-point favorite and the over/under set at 47.5. And after both teams opened the season with blowouts, the first real measuring-stick game of the year is here.
The Buckeyes rolled past Ball State, 56-3, with Jeremiah Smith putting on a show and the defense spending the afternoon swarming through a deep rotation. Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and he did it all in just the first half. That gave Julian Sayin a clean runway to settle in, and the quarterback responded with a sharp 21-of-25 line for 320 yards and four total touchdowns, including his first career rushing score.
Ohio State’s ground game took a little while to come alive, but when it did, it delivered a pair of explosive punches. Bo Jackson ripped off a 65-yard touchdown run, and Ja’Kobi Jackson added a 49-yard score.
On defense, there were some signs of the adjustment ahead as the Buckeyes replace a pile of NFL talent from last season, with missed tackles showing up more than a few times. Even so, Matt Patricia’s unit had a strong day overall.
Five-star freshman Jay Timmons stood out at corner in his first career start, TJ Alford picked off a pass, and Ball State finished with just 165 total yards and 45 rushing yards.
Texas was every bit as dominant in its opener, burying Texas State 59-7. The Longhorns forced three takeaways - two fumbles and an interception - and Arch Manning’s 2026 debut was a far better one than his first start a year ago against Ohio State.
Manning went 20-of-27 for 305 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, and he connected on a pair of long throws of more than 40 yards to Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo. Those two were a problem all game long, combining for 190 receiving yards.
Wingo led the way with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, while Coleman scored twice and finished with 70 yards on three receptions. Hollywood Smothers led the Texas rushing attack with 10 carries for 70 yards.
Texas also got help from Rasheem Biles, the Columbus native who left Ohio State for the Longhorns in the transfer portal after spending time at Pitt. Biles had Texas’ only interception, forced a fumble and finished with five tackles. Colin Simmons, the star edge rusher, had just one tackle, while former Buckeye Hero Kanu posted three tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
This one has a different feel. Ohio State and Texas meet for the third time in the last three seasons, but for the first time in Austin.
The Buckeyes won the previous two, beating Texas 28-14 in the 2024 College Football Playoff and 14-7 in last season’s opener in Columbus. Ohio State leads the all-time series 3-2.
The biggest thing to watch might be the run game on both sides. Both teams put up healthy-looking rushing totals in Week 1, but those numbers were padded by a few huge plays.
Outside of Smothers’ 45-yard burst, Texas managed only 111 yards on its other 35 carries, a 3.17-yard average. Ohio State was in a similar spot, getting its boost from two long touchdown runs while totaling just 123 rushing yards on its other 34 attempts, or 3.6 yards per carry.
That matters because the Buckeyes were out-rushed 166-77 in the last meeting and still found a way to win at home. Sayin, Smith and the Ohio State passing game can light it up, but they can’t afford to become one-dimensional in Austin against a Texas secondary that will make them earn everything.
Neither team is a finished product yet after one easy win apiece, but this matchup has the feel of the best game on Saturday’s slate.
In Other News...
Ohio States Receiver Rotation Just Got More Complicated Before Week 1
Ohio States receiver picture got a little murkier heading into Week 1 after Kyle Parker was ruled out for the opener against Ball State because of an injury. Ryan Day had already flagged Parker as dealing with a minor issue, and now the Buckeyes will have to open the season without one of the players in their wideout mix.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are among the receivers expected to get more snaps with Parker unavailable, which only adds another layer to a position group already under the microscope in camp. For a team trying to sort out roles early, even a short-term absence can matter, and this one gives Ohio State an early look at its depth before the real tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Week 1 Start Just Added Fuel To A Huge Debate
Ohio States season opener did plenty to reinforce why the Big Ten already feels like the league to beat, with Julian Sayin looking sharp in his first extended action and the Buckeyes setting the tone early against Ball State. Across the conference, Indiana also came out strong behind new quarterback Josh Hoover, while Rutgers, Michigan State and Nebraska each left a little more uncertainty on the board after mixed openings.
Curt Cignettis postgame comments about the Big Ten being superior to the SEC only added to a debate that has been simmering for months, and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyers praise for the leagues strength gave it even more oxygen. For Buckeyes fans, the opening weekend was less about settling anything outright than about reminding everyone that Ohio State is already in the middle of a bigger argument about where the sports best football is being played. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opener Made One Position Battle A Lot More Interesting
Ohio States season opener looked comfortable on the scoreboard, a 56-3 win that still left enough rough edges to keep the coaching staff busy. Jeremiah Smith delivered the kind of opening performance that reminds everyone why he is already such a focal point of the offense, piling up 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Devin McCuin also made his mark as the Buckeyes worked through stretches of inconsistency on both sides of the ball.
One of the more intriguing takeaways came away from the spotlight plays, where freshman Legend Bey flashed enough on offense to suggest there is something to build on. His night also came with some costly special teams errors, though, and that is the kind of detail that can reshape how quickly a young player gets trusted in bigger moments. At quarterback, the depth chart also appeared to settle a little further, with Tavien St. Clair looking more like he is chasing the No. 3 job than threatening the top of the line behind Julian Sayin. [Read more 🡒]