Texas football clearly isn't messing around in its home game vs. Ohio State.
The third-ranked Longhorns, hosting the top-ranked Buckeyes, do so for the first time at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium after playing the prior two years at the Cotton Bowl and in Columbus, Ohio, respectively. And they welcomed Ryan Day's team with a cannon through the chest — literally.
Following Texas' pregame playing of "The Eyes of Texas," the football program fired Smokey the Cannon — a replica Civil War artillery cannon that weighs over 1,200 pounds — through a No. 1 Ohio State jersey.
Texas fired its cannon through an Ohio State jersey 😯 pic.twitter.com/O85TwhVFCp
— ESPN (@espn) September 12, 2026
It seems as though
Texas chose a jersey without anyone's name on it, and wasn't targeting Buckeyes defensive back Earl Little Jr. — Ohio State's only player with that number on its roster.
The move hasn't worked out thus far for the Longhorns, however.
Texas committed a turnover on its first offensive play from scrimmage after running back Raleek Brown fumbled a swing pass to give Ohio State great field position. Credit to Texas' defense for holding the Buckeyes to a field goal.
One drive later, a slightly long Arch Manning pass forced highly sought-after receiver transfer Cam Coleman to dive for a pass that could have been a walk-in touchdown. Instead, the ball popped high in the air for an easy interception, allowing Ohio State to drive for a touchdown and take a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas football fires cannon through Ohio State jersey before kickoff
