ESPN’s College Gameday crew is leaning hard toward Texas in the Week 2 showdown with Ohio State, with every pick on the set going to the Longhorns over the top-ranked Buckeyes.
That call sets up a little extra edge for Ohio State as it heads into one of the biggest games of the early season. The Buckeyes already opened with a statement, rolling past Ball State 56-3 in Week 1.
Julian Sayin wasted no time looking like one of the names in the Heisman conversation, finishing 21 of 25 for 320 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Jeremiah Smith was just as sharp, hauling in eight catches for 151 yards and two scores.
Texas answered with a blowout of its own, taking down Texas State 59-7. Arch Manning also flashed Heisman-level form, going 20 of 27 for 305 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
This one carries real weight beyond the ranking numbers. The outcome could help shape both teams’ 2026 season trajectory and also play a part in where they land in the College Football Playoff picture at the end of the year.
Ohio State already has a recent win over Texas to point to. The Buckeyes beat the Longhorns 14-7 in last season’s opener, a game where Sayin went 13 of 20 for 126 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. Smith caught six passes for 43 yards, and Ohio State’s defense did the heavy lifting.
Texas had its chances in that one, but Manning was held to 17 of 30 passing for 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also ran for 38 yards on 10 carries.
That game was tight and low-scoring. This one has the feel of something bigger and far more explosive, especially with both quarterbacks showing much more in Week 1. For now, though, the full College Gameday panel is betting on Texas to get the job done.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A CFP Scheduling Problem Fans Will Debate
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Ohio State followers know that debate well, because the Buckeyes have long valued the kind of early-season test that can sharpen a team and energize a schedule. But when coaches such as Brent Venables, Steve Sarkisian and Dan Lanning talk about the risks and rewards of those matchups, they are really pointing to the same uncomfortable question fans keep circling. In a playoff era that can punish even a quality loss, the margin between a statement win and a season-long regret can be awfully thin. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Faces Ohio State's Biggest Early Problem
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Day did not try to separate himself from the problem, saying the responsibility for the gameplan sits with him and that the Buckeyes have to improve in every phase moving forward. The early concern in Columbus is not just the loss itself, but how it happened, with Ohio State unable to close in the fourth quarter after appearing to have control. For a program built on standards, the margin for error already looks smaller than anyone wanted. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces Early Questions After Stunning Poll Drop
The early tone of Ohio States season changed fast in Austin, where a big lead slipped away and turned into a damaging loss for the top-ranked Buckeyes. What looked like a statement win against Texas instead became an opening-week reality check, the kind that can reshape how a team is viewed before September really gets going.
The fallout showed up in the latest Coaches Poll, with Texas climbing and Ohio State sliding five spots as other programs around the country also shuffled up and down the rankings. For the Buckeyes, the larger concern is less about the number beside their name and more about how quickly a game can tilt when an opponent finds momentum, which is exactly what Texas did in the fourth quarter behind Arch Manning. [Read more 🡒]