Texas just got a big boost for its Week 2 showdown with Ohio State.
Cole Hutson, who had been expected to be replaced in the Longhorns’ starting lineup, will be back after winning a temporary injunction against the NCAA and earning another year of eligibility. That means Texas gets a proven piece back in the middle of its offensive line, and the Buckeyes lose the chance to attack a less experienced blocker early in the season.
Hutson started five games at guard and five games at center last season, so his return matters in a real way. With him back, Texas should be stronger up front in 2026, especially in the interior. That is a problem for Ohio State, which wants to create pressure up the middle under Matt Patricia.
The Buckeyes still believe they can get to Texas, but last year’s meeting showed it is not automatic. In that Week 1 game, Ohio State sacked Arch Manning only once. If it wants to win on the road at night this time, that number has to climb.
The matchup also comes with a familiar feel. It will be the third straight season Ohio State and Texas have played, and the Buckeyes have won the first two. They expect to try to do it again and shut down the Arch Manning buzz early.
For now, though, Ohio State’s immediate focus is much simpler. The Buckeyes open the 2026 season in Week 1 against Ball State, a game that should be a blowout. Ryan Day has said he is not looking past that opener, and he’ll point back to the same message: right now, it’s about getting better once practice starts.
Both teams will get a warm-up game before the heavyweight clash in Austin. Practice will help sort out the rest of the starting lineups on both sides, but Hutson’s return already changes the look of one of the biggest games on the early schedule.
In Other News...
Former Ohio State Coach Takes Public Shot At Buckeyes After Brutal Miss
Ohio States latest recruiting setback at running back brought an old name back into the conversation, and not for a flattering reason. The Buckeyes had spent two years trying to land five-star David Gabriel Georges before he chose Tennessee, a miss that stings even more in a room where Carlos Locklyn is now trying to keep the position group stocked at the level Ohio State expects.
Tony Alford, who left Columbus for Michigan, quickly became part of the fallout when he posted a social media message that many around the program took as a shot at his former school. For Ohio State, the timing only sharpened the frustration, because a recruiting loss of that size is hard enough without a former assistant turning it into a public reminder. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Finebaum Just Put Ohio State Above The SEC Again
The SECs grip on the sport has loosened just enough that even one of its most recognizable voices is sounding cautious about the leagues chances of reclaiming the top spot. During SEC media days on SportsCenter, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum weighed in on the conferences title outlook against the backdrop of a real drought, with Georgias back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022 still standing as the SECs last national crowns.
Finebaum pointed to a changing national picture, and Ohio State was part of the reason. Along with Oregon and Notre Dame, the Buckeyes were among the teams he viewed as better positioned than the SECs current contenders, a notable shift for a league that has long set the standard. For Ohio State, it is another sign that the path to the playoff and the championship conversation may be opening wider than it has in years. [Read more 🡒]