#1 Texas vs. #3 Ohio State:
College football is finally back, and Week 1 could not have set up a better slate of games. Ranked matchups headline every time slot, from LSU and Clemson to Alabama and Florida State, but the crown jewel is in Columbus where #1 Texas battles #3 Ohio State. It is a true heavyweight clash, featuring two powerhouse programs with national title aspirations and rosters full of star talent. All eyes will be on Arch Manning and Julian Sayin as they lead their teams into the season opener, and the result will set the tone for the playoff race.
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Last Year: +13.32 units
Overall CFB Record Since 2022: 174-162-4 (+13.62u)
#1 Texas vs. #3 Ohio State Betting Odds
Can Arch Manning live up to all of the hype?
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of August 19, 2025 at 12:21 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- Texas +1 (-110)
- Ohio State -1 (-110)
Moneyline
- Texas -107
- Ohio State -113
Total
- Over 47.5 (-115)
- Under 47.5 (-105)
#1 Texas vs. #3 Ohio State – August 30
Wow, can you believe it? WE MADE IT! Week 1 of the college football season is finally here, and what a slate we have to get our feet wet. #9 LSU clashes with #4 Clemson, #8 Alabama battles Florida State, #6 Notre Dame squares off against #10 Miami, and of course, the headliner—#1 Texas traveling to Columbus to face #3 Ohio State. Is this the best Week 1 we have ever been blessed with? Recency bias would say yes. We are also fortunate to have a few marquee games closing out the week. Be sure to check those out as well, as our other college football writers do an outstanding job breaking down all the top matchups on our site.
We get to kick off the weekend with the best matchup of the day—an SEC versus Big Ten clash that is tailor-made for college football fans. Crack a cold one, grab your favorite dip, and settle in, because this is going to be a masterpiece.
There is plenty to like about both teams. Ohio State brings two stars who shine on opposite sides of the ball: wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. They will be headline playmakers all season long. Meanwhile, Texas has one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in recent memory—Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli. The question is simple: can he live up to the hype and guide Texas back to the promised land in 2025? That journey begins in Week 1.
The Buckeyes will field a familiar yet refreshed defense. They lost their defensive coordinator to Penn State but added former NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, whose experience and knowledge should elevate this unit. Phil Steele still ranks Ohio State’s defense among the best in the Big Ten, though the linebacking corps may be a step below last season. The secondary, anchored by Caleb Downs, remains elite, ranked eighth in the nation.
New Face in Columbus
Steele has plenty of respect for this Ohio State offense. They lost several key contributors to the draft, but the Buckeyes will rely on sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin to lead them back to the College Football Playoff. Sayin’s experience is limited—just 12 attempts for 84 yards and one touchdown as a freshman—but with the coaching staff in place and a strong supporting cast, he should have a chance for a breakout season.
Will Ryan Day and the Buckeyes face a slight national championship hangover? I am not a strong believer in that, but this is a tough test right out of the gate for the defending champions.
Trust Experience
That said, I am all over the Longhorns in this matchup. The simplest handicap here is trusting experience. Manning has been in Steve Sarkisian’s system for three years. He knows the playbook, understands the offense, and has had live-game reps. Sure, he has not played extensively—just 95 attempts for 969 yards and nine touchdowns over his first two seasons, all of those scores coming in 2024—but that still gives him a foundation to build from.
Some may argue that if Manning truly lived up to the hype, he would have beaten out Quinn Ewers earlier in his career. I do not disagree with that point, but Manning now inherits a loaded offense with one of the deepest groups of running backs and receivers in the country. The offensive line is a concern, with only one starter returning after losing four, but if Sarkisian thought it was a glaring weakness, he would have addressed it in the portal. He trusts his current group, and that is enough for me. Steele projects this Texas offense to average over 430 yards and 33 points per game this season.
On defense, Texas did lose a lot on the line, with five departures. However, they replaced that production with five experienced players and bring back six starters overall. This defense should remain among the nation’s best, and it is more than capable of giving Sayin a true “welcome to SEC football” moment in Week 1.
At the end of the day, my confidence lies in experience. Texas has more of it, and that matters when opening the season against an elite opponent. Ohio State and Sayin do not get the luxury of a preseason game to iron out mistakes. Instead, their first test is against the number one team in the country, featuring a defense that can make life miserable for a young quarterback.
HORNS UP IN WEEK 1!!
Best Bet: Texas Moneyline (-107) odds via BetOnline
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