Matthew McConaughey made sure Ohio State heard from him before Texas’ Week 2 showdown, and he did it in classic Longhorns fashion.
The University of Texas’s unofficial “minister of culture” fired off a message that looked like a direct response to the Buckeyes’ 14-7 Week 1 win last August in Columbus:
“ding ding Horns in the ring. Oneinarow. Buckeyes coming to our house next - OUR time”
Texas enters Saturday night at 1-0, and it got there with the kind of opening performance fans wanted from a team trying to set a tone. The Longhorns handled Texas State comfortably, with the game competitive for only about 10 minutes before UT took control on both sides of the ball.
There were encouraging signs everywhere. The offensive line appeared to have few chemistry issues.
Arch Manning looked settled with the weapons Steve Sarkisian gave him through the portal and roster retention. Defensively, the linebackers and secondary stood out as strengths.
Not everything was perfect. The pass rush can still be sharper, and Texas State found some success on the ground, finishing with 161 rushing yards. But the Bobcats still struggled to turn that into points, reaching the red zone three times and scoring only once.
That’s enough to leave Texas with far more positives than concerns heading into a massive test. Ohio State, meanwhile, rolled past Ball State 56-3, so both teams arrive with a confidence boost and a short runway to Saturday night.
McConaughey’s point, at least in spirit, was simple: Texas is already ahead of where it was a year ago. Manning was making his official debut as the full-time starter in last season’s trip to Ohio State. This time, the Longhorns get to stay at home all week, and that built-in edge matters.
The Buckeyes also face some questions of their own. First-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is about to get his first real road test, with Julian Sayin leading the offense. The opener went smoothly, but Ball State is not the same kind of environment as DKR, where more than 100,000 fans should make communication a challenge for Sayin, the center and the Ohio State staff before the snap.
Texas may also be able to attack a Buckeyes defense that is still sorting itself out after major offseason turnover at linebacker. Manning’s comfort in Sarkisian’s offense, especially with heavy RPO looks, can put stress on that group.
Hollywood Smothers showed what he can do as a receiver out of the backfield, and that could force Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to lean on hard flat coverages. If that happens, Emmett Mosley V and other slot receivers could find space underneath on intermediate routes.
Texas has a clear path to victory. The sportsbooks think so, and after Week 1, McConaughey isn’t the only one.
In Other News...
Texas Fixed One Problem But Sarkisian Still Saw Costly Mistakes
Steve Sarkisian spent the offseason trying to clean up one of Texas most frustrating habits, and the first glimpse of progress came in the opener against Texas State. The Longhorns were flagged four times for 35 yards, a noticeable step forward from last years penalty problems and a sign that the emphasis on discipline was not empty talk. Three of the flags came on offense and one on defense, which at least suggested a team that was more manageable than the one that spent too many Saturdays in self-inflicted trouble.
Still, the improved total did not mean the performance was spotless, and Sarkisian had reason to see the remaining mistakes as more than minor blemishes. Some of the penalties mattered more than others, and that is where Texas will be judged as the schedule stiffens. The Longhorns can point to a cleaner opener, but the bigger question is whether the new standard holds up when the moments get tighter and the margin for error gets thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Gets A Massive Early Chance To Prove Itself Against Ohio State
The first full week of the college football season barely moved the top of the rankings, with only No. 24 Louisville taking a loss, but Texas still came away with a bump after a decisive win over Texas State. The Longhorns now sit higher in the AP Poll and are staring at one of the biggest measuring-stick games on the schedule, a home date with No. 1 Ohio State that will say plenty about where this team really stands.
It is the kind of early showcase that can shape a season long before conference play takes over, especially with the rest of Texass 2026 opponents also beginning to show their own early-season form. The updated AP and Coaches Polls offer one snapshot of where the Longhorns belong right now, but the Ohio State game is the one that will matter most when it comes to credibility, momentum, and the national conversation around Texas. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces One Ohio State Threat Fans Know All Too Well
Texas is getting an early-season measuring stick against Ohio State, and one of the biggest reasons the matchup feels so dangerous is the familiarity of Jeremiah Smith. The Longhorns have already spent time trying to slow down the star wideout, and now they have to do it again while also dealing with a Buckeyes offense that has looked more polished around quarterback Julian Sayin, who has quickly become the kind of player opposing defenses have to plan for from the opening drive.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State is hardly untouched by change. The Buckeyes are working through a major defensive overhaul under new coordinator Matt Patricia after sending a wave of talent to the NFL, which adds another layer to a game already carrying plenty of intrigue for Texas. For the Longhorns, the challenge is simple to describe and hard to solve: handle the receiver they know, while also finding answers for the new wrinkles Ohio State can throw at them. [Read more 🡒]