Ohio State may walk into its matchup with Texas carrying one big edge: it knows exactly what a truly elite receiver can do to a defense.
That’s because the Buckeyes spend practice time going against Jeremiah Smith, and cornerback Devin Sanchez says that work has already sharpened him. After facing Smith, Sanchez put it plainly: "Going against him made me realize I can go out here and guard anybody in the country, because obviously he's the best receiver in the country," Sanchez said about practicing against Jeremiah Smith.
Now Texas has its own outside weapon in Cam Coleman, and it didn’t take long for him to announce himself. In just about two-and-a-half quarters - maybe even as quickly as four offensive plays - Coleman showed enough to force Ohio State to treat him like a top-tier problem.
That creates a difficult balancing act for Matt Patricia’s defense. The Buckeyes have two cornerbacks they trust on the outside in Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews Jr., and confidence isn’t the issue. The issue is how much attention Coleman demands and what that opens up elsewhere.
Ohio State also has a path to disruption up front. Texas spent the offseason trying to strengthen an offensive line that had given Arch Manning trouble, and while the unit has improved, left guard remains unsettled.
Against Texas State, Dylan Sikorski and Laurence Seymore split snaps almost evenly, and neither gave up a pressure. Ohio State, though, is a much tougher test, and that uncertainty could give the Buckeyes a chance to make Manning uncomfortable.
If the pass rush doesn’t do the job by itself, Patricia has other tools. He can shade help toward Coleman with safety support or bracketed coverage, and he’s shown he can disguise those looks before the snap. But that kind of focus on Coleman could create cracks in other parts of the defense.
Ryan Wingo stands to gain the most if Coleman draws extra attention. Patricia’s preference for zone coverage could suit Wingo, and with one receiver pulling defensive eyes away, the other can find cleaner space. That same setup could also repeat what Wingo did against Texas State.
And when two receivers can threaten deep, the middle of the field opens up too. If Ohio State rolls safety help toward Coleman and stays alert to Wingo on the outside, Mosley V becomes a useful outlet for Manning out of the slot.
That leaves Manning with a clear challenge: recognize Patricia’s rotations quickly and find the spot Ohio State leaves exposed. If he does, Texas should have a much easier time throwing the ball downfield than it did a year ago.
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 🡒]