Ohio State’s opener went exactly the way a No. 1 team wants it to go. The Buckeyes rolled past Ball State 56-3 in Week 1 of the 2026 season, a clean, comfortable win that gave the starters live reps and let the backups get real game experience.
But the real temperature check arrives in Week 2.
The Buckeyes head to Austin for a top-four showdown with Texas, and this one comes with plenty of recent history baked in. It’s the third straight season these two programs have met, with Ohio State taking the 2024 College Football Playoff meeting in the Cotton Bowl 28-14 on the way to the national championship. They met again to open last season, and the Buckeyes came away with a 14-7 win at Ohio Stadium.
Now the stage shifts back to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, where both teams arrive with national championship ambitions and rosters built to match. The AP Poll has them both near the top, and Saturday gives them their first real chance to prove it.
Texas handled its own opener in convincing fashion, beating Texas State 59-7. The Longhorns scored touchdowns on seven of nine possessions and forced five turnovers, including two on downs, in a game that never really felt in doubt.
Still, this is the first major test for both teams. A loss won’t knock either Ohio State or Texas out of Playoff contention, but the winner will leave Austin looking a lot more like a team ready for the national stage.
It also puts two of college football’s best young coaches front and center: Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian. Day has had the upper hand in this series and already owns a national title from two years ago, while Sarkisian will be trying to show he belongs in the same elite conversation.
In Other News...
Ohio States Right Side Suddenly Faces Pressure Entering Texas
Ohio States offensive line left plenty to be sorted out after a shaky showing against Ball State, and the scrutiny has landed hardest on the right side as the Buckeyes turn toward Texas. The run game never fully settled in, the pass protection had its uneasy moments, and the questions now go beyond one rough afternoon to whether the current starting five is the best answer once the competition stiffens.
Phillip Daniels has been part of the conversation at right tackle, where every snap now carries extra weight with a bigger stage ahead. Coaches and analysts are also watching the depth behind the starters, especially after Joshua Padillas role was limited to center against Ball State, leaving the Buckeyes with less clarity than they would like as they head into a matchup that should say a lot about how ready the line really is. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To Texas With Another Statement Chance
Hero Kanu has a rare perspective on the Ohio State-Texas matchup, having worn both jerseys and seen the pressure on both sides of a game that has quickly taken on real national weight. As the Buckeyes head to Texas, the meeting comes with plenty of recent baggage, even before anyone starts talking about rankings or October momentum.
The teams have already crossed paths in a pair of high-stakes games, and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has framed the rivalry-less rivalry as the kind of test that demands full attention without letting the season get hijacked by the moment. For Ohio State, it is another statement chance on a stage that has already produced some memorable finishes, with Kanus background adding one more layer to a matchup that still feels like it has unfinished business. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Faces An Early Test That Could Expose A Bigger Problem
Week 2 brings an early heavyweight feel, with Ohio State trying to protect its No. 1 ranking in a marquee test against Texas. The matchup sits at the center of a busy college football weekend that also includes Michigan welcoming Oklahoma, along with other notable games involving Alabama, BYU and Arizona. For the Buckeyes, the appeal is obvious: a chance to reinforce last weeks perch with a win that would carry real national weight this early in the season.
The Longhorns have offered enough recent resistance to make this a tougher assignment than the rankings suggest, especially against a Buckeyes offense still trying to settle into its rhythm against elite competition. Ohio State has the talent to answer any challenge, but this game has the feel of one that could hinge on a few crucial plays and leave plenty to debate afterward, which is exactly why it stands out on a slate full of intriguing matchups. [Read more 🡒]