College football season is in full go and one of the biggest matchups of the season is here as the Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Austin, Texas, to take on the Texas Longhorns of the SEC.
We like to look ahead to give you some things to look forward to when it comes to each Ohio State football matchup, and it's no different with this showdown. As you would expect, OSU is a slight underdog on the road -- a place it isn't used to being. The No. 1-ranked Buckeyes look to start the season 2-0 and get a notable résumé win under their belt.
Here are five things to look forward to in the Ohio State vs Texas showdown.
Ryan Day Just Average In Top-5 Matchups at Ohio State
Saturday's showdown is not just a signature matchup for both programs; it also is in all of college football. It's No. 1 vs. No. 5 and two
of the bigger brands in football. How has Ryan Day done in these major games? He's been okay. And that's it. After just a 2-6 record in top-5 matchups through the 2023 season, he's now 8-7 overall thanks to his 2024 College Football Playoff run. He is, however, 0-2 on the road in legit road environments. This is a critical moment in Day's tenure, not just to turn the page on some of the recent losses, but to ensure that the Buckeyes are thought of as the team and program so many people think they should be. After some disappointing moments over the last few years in big games, especially how last year ended, a win on Saturday could go a long way in lifting this team to a big year.
Record Crowd Incoming for Ohio State vs. Texas?
There's no doubt that this type of matchup will draw a large crowd, and if the recent trends remain, Texas could be in store for another big crowd. Texas has hosted three top-5 matchups in its home history, but set its attendance record every single time.
- #1 UT vs. #4 Arkansas (12/5/70): 68,510
- #1 Ohio State vs. #2 UT (9/9/06): 89,442
- #1 UT vs. #5 Georgia (10/19/24): 105,215
There's obviously been numerous stadium upgrades since the first matchup of top-5 programs in 1970, but can it beat out the 2024 attendance record on Saturday? We'll see.
Julian Sayin Loved Texas ... And Almost Went There
How different this game and Ohio State's roster could look if Julian Sayin went to ... Texas. He almost did. Sayin was very consistent in saying that Texas was 'always' one of his favorites throughout his recruitment. From offensive scheme and system to quarterback development, Sayin had a great relationship with Steve Sarkisian and QB coach AJ Milwee for the Longhorns. It was such a good relationship that Danny Hernandez, Sayin's trainer, said he thought the OSU quarterback was going to commit to Texas. Speculation ended, however, when current Longhorns QB Arch Manning pulled the trigger before Sayin and committed to Texas.
Jeremiah Smith Has Struggled Against Texas
There have been very few teams to limit or completely shut down Jeremiah Smith ... except Texas. In fact, two of his four lowest yardage games have come against the Longhorns. In his two matchups, Smith has combined for just seven receptions for a whopping 47 yards. That's two games ... not one half. Smith was held to one reception for three yards in the 2024 College Football Playoff matchup and had six catches for 43 yards a season ago. This is a different offense, however, with Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. His balanced attack and desire to get the run going first don't bode well for a strong outing, but there's no denying that in order to come out of Austin with a win, Jeremiah Smith will have a big game.
Matchup Of Two New Coordinators
We've talked about the new coordinator on Ohio State's sideline, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but he's not the only new member of the sidelines for either team. Texas also brings in a new coordinator, and he'll be going head-to-head with Smith. Will Muschamp arrives in Austin as the team's new defensive coordinator and has spent the majority of his coaching career in the SEC. He's seen talent and has been able to practice against another big-play wideout in Cam Coleman. Will that be an asset come Saturday?
How will Muschamp look to defend Jeremiah Smith based on how he would defend Coleman, or would he defend the two separately? On the flip side, this is Arthur Smith's second game as a coordinator at the college level -- do things change if Muschamp brings a different game plan? The matchup between these two coordinators could determine the outcome of the game.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: 5 important things to know ahead of Ohio State' vs. Texas Saturday
