No. 1 Ohio State football is set to face No. 4 Texas for the third time in three seasons.
The Buckeyes went up against the Longhorns for the first time since 2009 during the 2024 College Football Playoff, winning28-14 in the Cotton Bowlto advance to the finals. Ohio State then opened the 2025 season by defeating Texas 14-7 at Ohio Stadium.
With Ohio State traveling to Austin, Texas on Sept. 12, here is how the Buckeyes and Longhorns match up in their upcoming regular-season meeting:
Ohio State pass offense vs Texas pass defense
After leading the nation with a 77% pass completion rate last year, Julian Sayin began his second season as Ohio State's starting quarterback with the same accuracy. Sayin threw consecutive incomplete passes on his first two attempts ofthe season-opening 56-4 win over
Ball State but finished completing 21 of 25 attempts (84%) for 320 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith remained Sayin's No. 1 option and began the season with 151 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. Devin McCuin also had a strong outing, grabbing seven receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown in his first game since transferring from UT San Antonio.
Texas cornerback Graceson Littleton made an impact when lining up across from Smith in his college debut last season, helping contain the 2025 Heisman contender to just 43 yards. The Longhorns held Ohio State to 126 passing yards, its fewest of the season. However, Texas gave up an average of 234.9 passing yards per game in 2025 and allowed Texas State to throw for 188 yards in its season opener.
Edge: Ohio State
Ohio State rush offense vs Texas rush defense
The Buckeyes' running game was limited to 35 yards and one touchdown, scored by Sayin, during the first half against Ball State. Last year's rushing yards leader, Bo Jackson, had just 19 yards before breaking through two tackles to record a 65-yard touchdown to open the second half.
Jackson accounted for just over half of Ohio State's rushing yards during his freshman season, recording 1,090 of the team's 2161. While Isaiah West was expected to be behind Jackson in the running back rotation this season, Florida transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson was the Buckeyes' No. 2 in the season opener, rushing for 83 yards and one touchdown on eight carries.
Ohio State's starting offensive line is still a question going into the Texas game, as Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is evaluating which five players are the "right mix." Philip Daniels got the start at right tackle in the Ball State game, but the Buckeyes took out Daniels and slotted Gabe Van Sickle at right guard, moving Austin Siereveld to right tackle.
The Buckeyes are up against a projected 2027 NFL first-round draft pick in Texas defensive edge Colin Simmons. The Dallas, Texas, native finished fifth in the country with 12 sacks last season, but failed to record a sack in the 2025 Ohio State game.
Edge: Texas
Ohio State pass defense vs Texas pass offense
Ohio State lost key secondary pieces from 2025, but has returning senior cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr., who recorded the Buckeyes' lone interception against Texas last season. Overall, the Buckeyes defense held Texas quarterback Arch Manning to 170 yards and one touchdown.
Manning went on to log 3,163 passing yards and 26 touchdowns last season, boosting the Longhorns to a 9-3 regular-season record and a 41-27 victory over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Team-leading receiver Ryan Wingo is also back for the Longhorns this season and is working opposite Auburn transfer Cam Coleman.
In the season opener, the Buckeyes had little opportunity to show whether their passing defense is as dominant as it was in 2025, when it allowed the nation's fewest average passing yards with 129.7 per game. Ball State completed just 20 of 37 pass attempts, four broken up by the Buckeyes.
Ohio State's secondary will be relying on younger players in Texas, including sophomore cornerback Devin Sanchez and freshman nickelback Jay Timmons.
Edge: Texas
Ohio State rush defense vs Texas rush offense
Texas' running game was led against Texas State by North Carolina State transfer Hollywood Smothers, who ran for 70 yards on 10 carries, and former USC running back Raleek Brown, who ran for two touchdowns. The two veterans could help improve on Texas' rushing offense, which ranked 13th in the SEC and 90th in the nation with an average of 137.8 yards per game.
Ohio State held opponents to 89.4 rushing yards last season. With Alabama transfer James Smith added to a defensive line of mostly returning Buckeys, including defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio State limited Ball State to 45 rushing yards.
Edge: Ohio State
Special teams
Ohio State brought in Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins during the offseason to replace Jayden Fielding. Hawkins took only extra points during his Buckeye debut, but with the Bears he proved he can nail 50-plus-yard field goals on three occasions, including a career-high 54-yard kick.
The Buckeyes' only notable moments on special teams against Ball State came on the two kickoff returns from freshman Legend Bey. On both occasions, Bey ignored teammate Brandon Inniss' instructions to not take the ball out of the end zone, and he never got farther than the 16-yard line.
Texas also has a new kicker in Memphis transfer Gianni Spetic. Spetic hit his first field goal for the Longhorns on a 48-yard kick against Texas State. His career high is a 55 yards.
Edge: Even
bmackay@dispatch.com
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How does Ohio State football match up vs Texas?
