All eyes will be on No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State as they face off from Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Whether you’re a Longhorn, Buckeye or a neutral observer, college football fans everywhere will have their popcorn ready for one of Week 1’s most anticipated matchups.
Is Texas back, or will the Buckeyes maintain their championship momentum? This showdown is not just a game; it is a rematch of last season’s CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal, where Ohio State triumphed 28-14 before going on to defeat Notre Dame in the National Championship. In an intriguing twist, the Longhorns enter this contest as the first preseason No. 1 preseason No. 1 team ever to be ranked as the underdog in an opener.
So what does ESPN’s FPI say how it will go this time around? Despite being labeled the underdogs, Texas holds a slight edge with a win probability of 53.4% over Ohio State’s 46.7% even while playing away from Austin.
The Longhorns are now in the Arch Manning era after two seasons under Quinn Ewers. Many believe Manning’s leadership and skill will inject new life into the Texas offense this season once and for all. On Defense, Texas boasts elite talent featuring preseason All-Americans Micael Taaffe, Anthony Hill and Colin Simmons.
But let’s not underestimate the Buckeyes. While Ryan Day has assembled a strong roster with a home-field advantage. Can the talent translate and withstand the balance game that Texas will put forth? Ohio State will lean heavily on their strong receiving core corps to try to counteract Texas’ defensive prowess. Can Jeremiah Smith finally find the right kryptonite to help silence Texas? In their last meeting, he was limited to just one catch for three yards—a stat that has to weigh heavy on the Buckeyes heading into Saturday’s matchup. Expect Texas to ramp up their defensive efforts tenfold in order to keep Day and his Buckeyes pinned down.
This clash already could be foreshadowing what is to come in the College Football Playoff picture indeed. But for now, the focus for each team will be to set the tone for their teams. All Eyes are on Columbus this Saturday at Noon ET on Fox.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
