The Ohio State-Texas matchup in Week 2 already feels like one of the defining games of the season, and Joel Klatt thinks the pressure attached to it is enormous.
On the Joel Klatt Show, Klatt made it clear he sees this one as a major early-season checkpoint for both programs and, more specifically, for their College Football Playoff hopes.
"The loser of this game is behind the eight-ball. Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian know exactly how important that game was to their teams and their programs a year ago.
Look at what Ohio State was able to do. They had eight new starters on defense.
They generated a ton of confidence in their brand-new quarterback, Julian Sayin, and their new defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, based on what they were able to do and how they controlled the game against Texas...so a loss in this game, each of these teams is going to be fighting uphill, and you're talking about major brands that do not expect to miss the playoffs."
That’s the heart of it. Ohio State and Texas are both expected to open the year near the top of the polls, and it would not be a surprise if they land in the top three again after being there last season.
That makes this more than just a heavyweight nonconference game. It’s a measuring stick for whether each team belongs in the national title conversation right away.
The Buckeyes have already handled Texas twice in the last couple of seasons. In 2024, Ohio State beat the Longhorns 28-14 in the College Football Playoff semifinals before going on to win the national championship. Last season, the Buckeyes opened with a 14-7 win over Texas in Columbus.
This time, Ohio State goes to Austin in Week 2, which gives the Buckeyes a little more runway before the showdown. Even so, the stakes remain obvious. A loss would not end their season, especially with the kind of schedule they’re staring at, but a win would give them a huge cushion.
And that schedule is no joke. Ohio State has road trips to Iowa, USC, and Indiana, plus home games against Oregon and TTUN. By any measure, it’s one of the toughest slates the Buckeyes have faced in the Ryan Day era.
Fans won’t be interested in excuses, though. They’ll expect Ohio State to make the CFP for a third straight year, and if this team is as good as it’s supposed to be, it will have to survive that grind.
In Other News...
Ohio State Nears A Massive Recruiting Decision Fans Wont Ignore
Ohio States 2027 recruiting class is already built around elite talent, with three five-star commitments and a national ranking that has the Buckeyes sitting ninth overall. The staff is still pushing to add at least two more five-stars before Signing Day, and one of the biggest names left on the board is David Gabriel Georges, along with receiver Monshun Sales, whose recruitment has become one of the more closely watched storylines in the cycle.
Sales has set a July 17 commitment date, giving Ohio State a clear marker as it tries to keep momentum going with a class that still has room to climb. The Buckeyes are in the mix with several other programs, but this one carries extra weight because of where Ohio State stands now and how much a win there could change the feel of the class heading into the fall. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Awaits Final Word In Massive WR Recruiting Battle
Monshun Sales has put a date on one of the more closely watched recruiting calls of the summer, setting his announcement for Friday, June 17, with the reveal coming live on the Pat McAfee Show. The five-star wide receiver has been one of the top names on the board for a group that includes Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Indiana and LSU, and the race has stayed tight enough that no one around the recruitment has been willing to call it early.
For Ohio State, the timing matters because the Buckeyes have remained in the thick of it as the final decision approaches, with late momentum still part of the conversation. Alabama got an early boost tied to his nickname, Indiana has long carried the hometown pull, and Texas has stayed firmly involved, leaving the Buckeyes waiting along with everyone else for the final word on a target who could reshape the top end of the receiver class. [Read more 🡒]
Carnell Tate Is Already Fueling A Debate Titans Fans Can't Ignore
Tennessees early buzz around Carnell Tate has only grown since the Titans used a premium pick on the Ohio State receiver, and Robert Saleh has wasted no time signaling how much the team thinks of him. Saleh has talked up Tates development and importance to the offense, pointing to a player who already looks like a meaningful part of the plan rather than a long-term project.
The surprise came as much from the draft slot as the selection itself, with Tate going far earlier than many around the league expected and even drawing some surprise from the receiver himself. For the Titans, though, the bigger issue is how quickly a young wideout can become part of the conversation around Cam Ward and the offense, especially when the expectations attached to that kind of pick are this high. [Read more 🡒]