Urban Meyer isn’t handing Texas a prediction so much as a condition.
With No. 4 Texas set to host No.
1 Ohio State in Austin on Saturday, Meyer said the game’s shape will come down to one thing: whether the Longhorns’ skill talent can hold up against the Buckeyes. If it can, he expects a tight one.
If it can’t, he sees Ohio State pulling away.
“They're much better than they were a year ago,” Meyer said of the Longhorns. “If Texas' skill can match Ohio State, this will be a close game. If they don't, Ohio State will win this thing by 7, 8, 9 points.”
That came during Meyer’s appearance on The Joel Klatt Show, where he broke down the matchup without putting an exact score on it. Even without a final number attached, the message was clear enough: he believes Ohio State has the edge.
And it’s not hard to see why he landed there. Meyer pointed to the Buckeyes being at least equal or better than Texas across almost every position group. Ohio State also has the recent big-game résumé to back it up, with Ryan Day’s team winning the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2024.
Texas, meanwhile, has had its moments under Steve Sarkisian, but the Longhorns have too often fallen short when the opponent is elite - and Ohio State fits that bill.
Still, this Texas team is not the same one from a year ago. The Longhorns added an elite transfer in Cam Coleman at wide receiver and brought in two running backs, Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, giving the roster a noticeably different look.
Saturday will be a chance to find out whether that upgraded group can finally erase what Meyer called Texas’ Ohio State problem. The showdown kicks off in Austin at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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The buildup to Texas and Ohio State has the feel of a measuring-stick game, and for the Longhorns it comes with an extra layer of intrigue because they still have not gotten past the Buckeyes in recent seasons. Steve Sarkisian has kept the focus on preparation, knowing the opener will reveal plenty about where his team stands early and how well it can handle the kind of stage that leaves little room for hesitation.
Arch Manning will be at the center of it for Texas, while Ohio State counters with Julian Sayin in a matchup that already carries Heisman Trophy buzz on both sides. For the Longhorns, the challenge is bigger than one quarterback duel or one early-season result. It is about finally breaking through against a program that has kept them waiting and doing it in a game that should say a lot about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
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Ohio States new-look approach under Matt Patricia is expected to lean heavily on zone, which puts a premium on receivers who can find soft spots and turn them into chunk plays. That is where Wingo becomes such a fascinating piece for Texas, especially with Sarkisian looking for ways to create advantages against a secondary that will be trying to keep the Longhorns from getting comfortable early. [Read more 🡒]
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The appeal for Texas starts with Arch Manning, whose passing ability gives the Longhorns a chance to create the kind of explosive plays that can change a marquee nonconference game in a hurry. Plenty of others, including Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel, are sticking with Ohio State because of concerns such as the offensive line and the weather, which is why this matchup has quickly become one of the seasons most closely watched tests. [Read more 🡒]