Texas’ upcoming showdown with Ohio State is doing more than giving Steve Sarkisian a chance to measure his team against one of the nation’s best. It’s also turning into a recruiting magnet.
That matters because Sarkisian has spent the past year openly wondering what the payoff is for loading up on big non-conference games if the College Football Playoff committee doesn’t seem to reward them. Texas took a loss to Ohio State last year, then beat CFP-bound Oklahoma and Texas A&M, and still wound up outside the playoff field.
But while Sarkisian has questioned the value of those matchups, he’s also making them work for him. Texas is using the Buckeyes game as a major recruiting weekend, and the list of visitors keeps growing.
Five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright, the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2028, is the latest to set a visit for the weekend Texas hosts Ohio State. The Florida native is projected to be split between the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators, but he’ll be in Austin for this one.
He’ll be joined by a growing group of blue-chip names. Current Texas commits like five-star wideout Easton Royal and five-star interior offensive lineman Ismael Camara are planning to be there, along with top targets such as four-star tight end Ridge Janes and three-star cornerback Jordan Hall.
That’s the real point of these games. Texas doesn’t roll out a showcase like this for every opponent.
Sarkisian isn’t lining up recruits for the Red River Rivalry or for SEC home dates against teams like Ole Miss and Florida. He’s bringing them in when the Longhorns are playing a heavyweight non-conference game.
And this one is a heavyweight. Based on the Preseason Coaches Poll, it’s No. 1 against No. 4, the kind of matchup that grabs attention far beyond the field. For recruits, it’s a chance to see whether Texas looks and feels like the kind of program they want to join.
That’s why these games still matter, even with all the debate about playoff selection. They give prospects a front-row seat to a big-stage environment and let Texas show off what it can be against another elite program.
Sarkisian may still have a point about how the playoff process handled Texas last year. But at the same time, this Ohio State game is proving exactly why those non-conference showdowns remain valuable.
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