Texas has plenty of talent heading into its showdown with No. 1 Ohio State, but the Longhorns can’t lean on talent alone. In a game this big, the players who have already been through the grind have to keep everything steady.
That’s the part Steve Sarkisian keeps circling back to. He said Texas needs to “get even more focused on us” during a week like this, and that puts the spotlight on the veterans who can help the Longhorns stay locked in on their own standard instead of getting swallowed up by the moment.
Quarterback Arch Manning is at the center of it all. His job obviously starts with production, but his leadership matters just as much.
Manning has already taken an Ohio State loss, so he knows what that moment feels like in a way many of his teammates do not. With so much attention already following the second-year starter, a win here could send the conversation around him in a much more positive direction.
After a strong opener against Texas State, he now has to keep the offense calm when the stakes rise. If he stays within himself and handles the rough patches, the rest of the unit can settle in behind him.
Ryan Wingo is another name Sarkisian pointed to, and for good reason. He’s not just a promising young receiver anymore.
Sarkisian grouped him with players who have now “been in it” for multiple years, which means Texas needs more than his production. Wingo can help guide the other receivers, including transfer Cam Coleman, through whatever the game throws at them.
A fast start, a swing in momentum, a loud Ohio State defense - experienced players like Wingo have to keep the standard in place.
Trevor Goosby also earned a mention from Sarkisian when the coach talked about the veterans Texas can trust. Against an Ohio State offense full of playmakers, composure matters as much as talent. Texas is going to hit difficult stretches on defense, and Goosby’s ability to stay composed and keep everyone aligned could be a major factor.
On the other side of the ball, Colin Simmons is already one of the most recognizable young stars on Texas’ defense, but this is another chance for him to show the kind of leadership that comes with that status. Ohio State will challenge the Longhorns physically and mentally all night long, and Simmons has the kind of game-changing ability that can swing momentum. Just as important, his energy and consistency can ripple through the rest of the defense.
Jelani McDonald was another defender Sarkisian singled out as someone who has been around long enough to know what’s expected.
And that’s really the message from Sarkisian: keep the noise out and stay true to the process. “Trust our process,” he said.
Saturday will test that in a big way. Ohio State is bringing pressure, talent and all the weight that comes with being No.
- Texas’ best chance to handle it is to let its most experienced players hold the line and keep the team focused on what got it here in the first place.
If that happens, the Longhorns can make this a night about execution instead of emotion.
In Other News...
Texas-Ohio State Is Already Creating An Austin Frenzy
The buzz around Texas trip to Ohio State is already spilling far beyond the field, with ticket prices turning the matchup into a hot topic in Austin before kickoff even arrives. Seats in the upper deck are starting around $480, and the cost climbs into the thousands closer to the action, putting this one out of reach for plenty of Longhorns students who had hoped to be in the building.
Still, the game is shaping up to be a major moment for the city as much as for the team. Local business owners and economic experts are expecting a wave of visitors to bring a noticeable boost to Austin, adding another layer to a matchup that is already carrying plenty of weight for Texas fans trying to take it all in, even if they have to do so from afar. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees Ohio State Texas Coming Down To One Big Play
Urban Meyer is treating the Ohio State-Texas showdown like the kind of early-season heavyweight fight that can swing on a single moment. After both teams rolled through their openers against overmatched opponents, the former Buckeyes coach pointed to the quarterbacks as the obvious center of gravity, with Julian Sayin and Arch Manning carrying most of the pressure in a game that figures to be tight for a long stretch.
Texas does get the home-field edge, and Meyer acknowledged that as part of what makes this such a tricky road test for Ohio State. Still, he called for the Buckeyes to pull it out, which only adds another layer to a matchup already loaded with intrigue. For a Longhorns team trying to measure itself against one of the sports standard-bearers, the margin for error may be as slim as Meyer suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces One Real Backfield Concern Before Ohio State
Texas has spent much of the buildup to Ohio State sorting through the usual early-season questions, but the one backfield wrinkle worth watching is the status of freshman running back Derrek Cooper. He was hurt in the season opener, and while the Longhorns have not issued an official injury report, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Cooper was in a boot as the team moved into the week.
Cooper is now a game-time decision, which leaves a little uncertainty in an area where Texas otherwise expects to lean on its top options. If he cannot go, the Longhorns should have enough depth to cover the workload, with Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown likely carrying most of the load. Still, against a national-stage opponent like Ohio State, every available back matters, and Texas would prefer to know exactly what it has before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]