Ohio State and Texas are heading into the 2026 cycle as two of the sport’s biggest spenders, and one anonymous Big Ten general manager says that lines up neatly with where they sit at the top of college football.
As CBS Sports’ Richard Johnson was told, "There's a connection between who spends the most and who has the best roster."
That view is built on more than just the latest wave of transfers and blue-chip high school additions. It also reflects the expensive recruiting hauls those programs have stacked up in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Texas already has Arch Manning, a 2023 recruit, while Ohio State landed Julian Sayin in January 2024 after Nick Saban’s retirement opened the door for a transfer from Alabama.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns also have the kind of setup that makes this sort of dominance feel almost inevitable: big-money donors, major football tradition, and massive markets with more than one million people. Austin and Columbus stand out even more because they’re in states with passionate pro sports fan bases but cities without pro teams. In that sense, having these two programs near the top every year is less a surprise than the natural order.
There’s also a familiar football logic to it. Ohio State and Texas both have loaded offensive lines and quarterbacks and receivers with Heisman-level ceilings. That’s the way it has long worked in the sport, even in the old scholarship-and-stipend days.
And now they get to put all that investment on display in one of the biggest games of the early season. The two teams will meet in Week 2 on ABC, a matchup that should help justify the money being poured into both rosters.
The price tag for fans is soaring too. Ohio State supporters will face the most expensive trip Central Texas has ever hosted for a matchup of this kind.
"Hotel prices in Austin typically spike for major weekends, but this September 12 Texas vs. Ohio State showdown is in a league of its own compared to other preseason games.
What might normally run $200-$300 per night (or even for other early-season games) can easily jump to $500-$1,200+ downtown or near campus-often with strict 2-night minimum stays. This isn't just another preseason game; it's a marquee #1 vs. #2 (or top-5) clash between two powerhouse programs in one of the most anticipated non-conference rematches in recent years, complete with College GameDay in town.
The hype around this rematch is driving demand far beyond a typical preseason game. The atmosphere in Austin will be unforgettable, but the massive fan interest from both sides means prices reflect pure excitement," Fora agent Hayley Mirza of Southlake told me in June.
The stakes could end up getting even stranger from a playoff standpoint. The loser of the game might wind up seeded above the winner in the College Football Playoff. And it’s just as possible that this one decides whether one of these teams gets into the 12-team field at all.
That’s part of what makes a non-conference game like this so valuable to the sport. Matchups this big are rare, and fans don’t get many chances to experience them during a college football lifetime.
It may also carry weight with the CFP selection committee if everything is tight after championship weekend in December. At the very least, it would send a message to teams that prefer to keep their schedules soft.
In Other News...
Former Michigan Star Just Fed Ohio State Fans A Matt Patricia Debate
Jake Butts stop at Ohio State practice offered Buckeyes fans a little extra perspective from an unlikely source. The former Michigan tight end, now a Big Ten Network analyst, came away impressed enough to say the 2026 Ohio State team still has the kind of talent to stay among the nations best, even with several key players gone to the draft and a defense that has to reload in a few spots.
The part that will get debated in Columbus is Butts read on Matt Patricia, because he tied the Buckeyes continued defensive success to the coordinators impact. For a program that measures everything against championship standards, that kind of praise from a former rival is one more sign that the expectation level remains high even as Ohio State turns the page to a new group. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States No. 2 Receiver Battle Has A New Name To Watch
The race to become Ohio States second receiving option behind Jeremiah Smith has a new face in the mix, and Devin McCuin is making enough noise in fall camp to force his way into the conversation. The UTSA transfer has brought experience and polished route-running to a group that is still sorting itself out, and those traits have helped him stand out as the Buckeyes look for a reliable complement to their primary target.
McCuins camp momentum has given him a leg up on some of the younger receivers trying to climb the depth chart, even if nothing is settled yet. With playing time still up for grabs, his fit in the offense is worth watching because Ohio State could use a steady presence opposite Smith, especially if McCuin keeps showing the kind of consistency that has gotten him noticed so far. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States New Offense Could Make Julian Sayin Even Tougher To Stop
Ohio State is heading into the new season with a different kind of edge on offense, as Arthur Smith reportedly leans into a more controlled approach that could change the way the Buckeyes operate. The core up front remains largely intact, and with much of the offensive line and tight end depth back in place, there is a sense that the unit is being built to be steadier, cleaner and harder to disrupt from snap to snap.
Julian Sayin has already been part of the conversation around that shift, with the quarterback noting the offenses maturity as it takes shape. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has seen the adjustments from the other side of the ball, and the early signs suggest Ohio State is trying to pair that stability with more efficiency. If the structure holds, Sayin may be asked to do less to make the offense dangerous, which is often when a quarterback becomes the toughest to stop. [Read more 🡒]