By : Ethan Horner
(Photo/Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
This weekend, the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes will look to protect their home turf as they welcome the Texas Longhorns in what promises to be one of the premier matchups of the season. This matchup has all the ingredients of a heavyweight showdown, as fans will get the chance to watch some of the best players in the country on both sides of the ball go head-to-head. From explosive playmakers on offense to dominant stars on defense, this game is loaded with talent and storylines that make it one of the most anticipated battles of the season.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day officially handed the reins of the offense to **Julian Sayin**, the highly-touted 5-star sophomore, marking a major moment in the Buckeyes’ title defense. Sayin will be making the first start of his young career on one of the biggest stages in college football, and the pressure couldn’t be higher as he faces off against a battle-tested Texas defense. Still, Sayin isn’t stepping into this role empty-handed—he’ll have the luxury of throwing to one of the nation’s premier wideouts as his go-to target. Coach Day essentially gave him the keys to a Ferrari; now it’s up to Sayin to keep it on the road and prove he can drive Ohio State’s offense full speed ahead.
The Buckeyes also boast one of the premier players in all of college football—and without question the best on the defensive side of the ball—in safety **Caleb Downs**. Widely regarded as a game-changer, Downs will be locked in this weekend on disrupting Texas quarterback Arch Manning, doing everything he can to rattle the young signal-caller. Even after losing key contributors to the NFL Draft, Ohio State’s defense remains elite, and Downs is the biggest reason why. His presence elevates the entire unit, and his knack for making jaw-dropping, momentum-swinging plays has become almost routine. If the Buckeyes are going to control this matchup, you can bet Caleb Downs will be right in the middle of it.
The road to repeating as national champions starts now, and this weekend could be the spark that defines Ohio State’s season. A victory over Texas would give the Buckeyes the momentum to hit their stride early, build confidence, and set themselves up for another run at the College Football Playoff. Vegas has them as slim 2.5-point favorites, a reminder that this clash could go either way. With the lights shining bright and expectations sky-high, this is the kind of matchup that can shape a season—I can’t wait to see how the Buckeyes respond and whether they can start their title defense with a statement win.