Texas set to become first preseason No. 1 team to be a Week 1 underdog, per report
By Mark Kern
Published:
Texas made history on Monday by claiming the No. 1 spot in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time in program history.
Now it’s been reported the Longhorns are also making history in a different kind of way. Despite the No. 1 ranking, Texas is a small underdog vs. Ohio State in Week 1 on the road, per most sports betting apps. According to ESPN’s Doug Greenberg, Texas will be the first-ever preseason No. 1 team to be an underdog in its opening game. The report cites ESPN research that dates back to 1978.
Texas was named the No. 1 team in both the coaches and the AP poll after making it to the College Football Playoff semifinals in each of the last two seasons. With Arch Manning leading an uber-talented team, expectations have never been higher in Austin.
Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns lost last season to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the semifinals, and the Buckeyes went on to win the national championship.
Now, it isn’t every year the No. 1 team is on the road against the defending national champion. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in the coaches poll, and No. 3 in the AP poll.
Most books have the current spread at Ohio State -2.5. The matchup between these teams was extremely competitive last year, as the Longhorns were driving to potentially tie the game late when Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer took back a fumble to clinch the win.
All eyes will be on Columbus on Aug. 30, as the Longhorns look to get the 2025 season off to a fast start.
