The Texas Longhorns will be participating in one of the most-anticipated college football season openers of all time.
Earning the top spot in both the preseason AP and Coaches polls, the Longhorns are set to face the daunting task of opening the season on the road against the reigning national champion, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The fact it’s a rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinal only adds more fuel to the fire.
The meeting is each team’s first test after an offseason of significant personnel turnover. Texas had 12 players picked in the 2025 NFL Draft and Ohio State had 14. Newcomers will quickly feel the stakes of a matchup between two extremely high-profile college football powerhouses.
Win at the line of scrimmage
The Longhorns experienced the most turnover on their offensive line, the sole returner of that front being senior right guard DJ Campbell.
Sophomore left tackle Trevor Goosby, who stepped in at both tackle positions late last season, will be relied on to protect sophomore quarterback Arch Manning’s blindside. Senior center Cole Hutson will anchor the line after last starting as a freshman. Junior left guard Neto Umeozulu and sophomore right tackle Brandon Baker will both make their first starts in the burnt orange.
The more effective rushing attack won when the two faced off in the Cotton Bowl. Texas eked out only 58 rushing yards on 2.0 yards per carry — an improvement from that is practically required to come out victorious this time around.
Texas’s performance in the trenches early on should dictate the comfort level of the offense as the game moves along.
Put Manning in a better position than Sayin
While the offense will look to help Manning get into a groove in his first game as the permanent starter, the defense will do all it can to prevent newly-minted Buckeye field general sophomore Julian Sayin from doing so.
The recipe for the Longhorns’ pass defense is clear: Keep Sayin uncomfortable through pressure and discipline. Don’t allow him a rhythm with Ohio State’s impressive pass-catching corps led by sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, junior wide receiver Carnell Tate and junior transfer tight end Max Klare.
Fortunately for Texas, the defense boasts countless key contributors from last year’s team, giving them much-needed experience. Edge rushers sophomore Colin Simmons and senior Ethan Burke, along with junior linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. and Liona Lefau, will bring the heat and test Sayin’s decision making.
In the secondary, seniors Michael Taaffe and Jaylon Guilbeau and juniors Malik Muhammad and Jelani McDonald must limit Ohio State’s vertical threats, keeping Sayin’s throws in front of them and preventing him from gaining confidence in the pocket.
Convert on special teams
After questionable special teams play late last season, Texas reloaded this offseason, bringing in seniors kicker Mason Shipley and punter Jack Bouwmeester, both of whom have been named to preseason watchlists for their annual positional award.
In his last two years at Texas State, Shipley went 30-of-34 on field goals and 10-for-12 specifically from 40-plus yards. Bouwmeester averaged 44.7 yards per punt at Utah in 2024.
Putting confidence behind these newcomers will be vital in this game and for the whole season. Having trusted veterans on kick and punt returns can benefit the tide of the game as well.
Momentum runs through the special teams. The little things matter even more in high-level matchups — yards on punts, manageable field goals and better field position can inspire a dramatic victory on the road.
