Texas vs. Ohio State Preview: Comparing No. 1 vs. No. 2 Ahead of Week 1 Clash

In what's being billed as a potential "game of the century," Ohio State hosts Texas at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 30, in FOX's first Big Noon Kickoff game of the season.

With the Longhorns and Buckeyes recently being voted No. 1 and No. 2 in USA Today's coaches poll, and both sitting atop the college football national championship odds, I look at the Texas vs. Ohio State tale of the tape to see how these programs stack up this season.

Should you be backing Arch Manning and the Longhorns or Jeremiah Smith and the Buckeyes for your Texas vs. Ohio State prediction?

🏈 Texas vs. Ohio State odds

Live college football odds for Texas vs. Ohio State from the best sports betting sites

🧠 Texas vs. Ohio State: Tale of the tape

• These are two of the best head coaches in the country, though Day beat Sarkisian in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season, 28-14, and has one of the highest winning percentages in college football history (.875)
• Sarkisian's Texas staff has far more continuity heading into this season, with all three of his coordinators back for a fifth straight season
• Day had to replace both offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (Las Vegas Raiders) and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (Penn State)
• New Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will be a first-time play-caller but is regarded as the best wide receiver coach in the country, while new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia hasn't coached in college football since 2003 (Syracuse)
• These are projected to be the two best defenses in the country by SP+ after they finished top two last season by the same metric
• Ohio State is projected to have a better offense thanks to more returning production, including Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and several experienced linemen

🚀 Texas vs. Ohio State offense comparison

• Both Manning (95 career pass attempts) and Sayin (five career pass attempts) are inexperienced but come with plenty of hype as former five-star recruits, though it's hard to imagine either will look like Heisman Trophy odds candidates in this Week 1 matchup against top-ranked defenses
• Texas has the clear advantage in the running back room (Quintrevion Wisner, C.J. Baxter); however, Ohio State added West Virginia transfer C.J. Donaldson to pair with projected starter James Peoples
• The biggest difference between these offenses is Ohio State's upper hand with its pass catchers, especially since it added tight end Max Klare to bolster a room led by Smith and Tate - two projected future first-round picks
• Texas lost all three of its top pass catchers from last season and will rely heavily on true sophomore Ryan Wingo and new tight end Jack Endries
• The Buckeyes also have more experience on the offensive line, with Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa joining four players up front who have seen playing time, namely Austin Siereveld 
• D.J. Campbell is Texas' only returning starter on the offensive line, with both of its new starting tackles being sophomores (Trevor Goosby, Brandon Baker)

🛡️ Texas vs. Ohio State defense comparison

• Even with Texas and Ohio State both losing multiple starters to the NFL draft, they both have several potential All-American candidates who are among the best players in their respective conferences
• Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs is arguably the best defender in the country and leads an Ohio State secondary that has a top cornerback prospect in Davison Igbinosun
• Texas' Anthony Hill Jr. and Colin Simmons are about as impactful as any pair of front-seven players in college football after combining for 31 TFLs and 17 sacks last season
• The Longhorns' interior defensive line is relying heavily on transfers with Maraad Watson (Syracuse), Cole Brevard (Purdue), Travis Shaw (North Carolina), and Hero Kanu (Ohio State) all expected to be in the rotation
• While Ohio State's front seven lost a lot of talent, its linebacker room is in good shape with Sonny Styles as a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year candidate and Arvell Reese expected to be an All-Big Ten player
• At least two of Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry, Eddrick Houston, Kayden McDonald, and North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson need to be breakout-type players for the Buckeyes along a D-line with all new starters
• Texas lost two starting defensive backs to the first two rounds of the NFL draft, but shouldn't se much drop off with players like Michael Taaffe, Malik Muhammad, and Jaylon Guilbeau back

📈 Texas vs. Ohio State: Who has the edge?

🌰 Offense: Ohio State

The Manning buzz is palpable, but Sayin enters the better situation with a more experienced offensive line and a noticeably better pass-catching corps.

Smith and Tate are the best 1-2 punch at receiver in the country, and Klare is the best tight end the Buckeyes have had in years. Even with Hartline calling plays and a new running back combo, Ohio State's offense looks like it's in better shape heading into the opener.

Sayin also makes his starting debut at home, while Manning has to take on an elite defense on the road in just his fourth-ever start. Texas is relying heavily on a lot of inexperienced players heading into this game in Columbus. 

🐂 Defense: Texas

It's hard to pick between these two defenses. However, the Longhorns have two absolute game-wreckers in their front seven (Hill, Simmons) and really reloaded their interior D-line via the portal while retaining Pete Kwiatkowski.

I expect one of Watson or Brevard to make an immediate impact for this defense. There's also more continuity in Texas's secondary, even if Ohio State returns the best defensive player in the country at safety in Downs. Plus, the whole Patricia at defensive coordinator thing is an unknown for Ohio State after having Knowles for the last three years.

These are going to be two of the best defenses in the country, but Texas' could be truly special.

🔢 Projected score: Ohio State 24, Texas 20

Although Manning and Smith will get the headlines ahead of this Week 1 matchup, it's the defenses that look poised to be on full display.

Both teams have All-American caliber defenders in their front sevens and secondaries, and both QBs are just so inexperienced. This could be a clunky offensive game early with Manning and Sayin taking snaps for the first time against top-10 defenses.

While I'm predicting an Ohio State win, taking the Under on 48.5 points (-110 at BetMGM) is an equally enticing bet.

✅ Prediction: Ohio State will win (-130 via BetMGM)

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📊 Texas vs. Ohio State odds outlook

• These are the two biggest favorites by the College Football Playoff odds and the two biggest favorites to win the college football championship
• Texas is the SEC championship odds favorite over Georgia (+400) and Alabama (+475), while Ohio State is the Big Ten championship odds favorite over Penn State (+240) and Oregon (+450)
• Manning is the Heisman favorite over Garrett Nussmeier (+900), Cade Klubnik (+950), and Smith (+1100)
• Ohio State is one of just four teams with a college football win total of 10.5 (Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon), and Texas is among the seven teams set at 9.5

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