Texas Stuns Ohio State with a Historic Twist No One Saw Coming

So here we go, folks: Texas starts the 2025 season perched atop the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll, a lofty spot that’s got the betting markets scratching their heads—because oddly enough, these Longhorns are opening as underdogs against Ohio State in Columbus. Yep, you read that right. Steve Sarkisian’s squad, blessed with the preseason No. 1 ranking, faces off against Ryan Day’s Buckeyes, the reigning champs who Vegas actually favors by 2.5 points. It’s a curious twist that hasn’t been seen since the tail end of the ’80s, and it begs the question—does history favor the champs defending their turf or the new top dog struggling to hold onto their crown? With a rematch fresh from their Cotton Bowl clash and two fresh quarterbacks ready to make waves—including the highly anticipated Arch Manning era—this game promises drama, grit, and a heavy dose of unpredictability. Mark your calendars for August 30; this one’s not just a game, it’s the opening salvo in what could be a defining season. LEARN MORE.

Meet The Wife Of Ohio State Coach Ryan Day (1:51)

Texas received major recognition by placing No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll. The betting markets don’t anticipate the Longhorns maintaining that top spot for long.

Steve Sarkisian’s Texas squad opens the 2025 season on the road against No. 3 Ohio State. The defending champions rank below the Longhorns and Penn State Nittany Lions, but Vegas still backs the defending champions to earn a monumental victory at The Shoe.

Ohio State is currently a 2.5-point favorite to win the marquee matchup. Unless that line shifts before Saturday, Aug. 30, ESPN’s Doug Greenberg noted that Texas will be the AP’s first preseason No. 1 team to open the season as Week 1 underdogs.

Furthermore, no top-ranked squad has come particularly close to starting as an underdog in decades. Per Greenberg, No. 1 Notre Dame defeated No. 4 Michigan as a five-point favorite to start the 1990 season.

Yet there’s precedent for a top team falling in the season-opener. The Texas-Ohio State matchup represents the narrowest point spread for a No. 1 team since Florida State lost as a four-point favorite to No. 8 Miami in 1988.

Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian before the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Tim Heitman-Imagn

All eyes will be on a colossal Cotton Bowl rematch in Columbus. Penn State probably won’t sway any observers during a season-opening game against Nevada, so there’s a good chance the winner enters Week 2 as the nation’s No. 1 squad.

On Jan. 10, the Buckeyes scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to advance to the National Championship Game with a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns. Ryan Day has since watched 14 of his players get drafted.

Ohio State’s new starting quarterback will at least have a returning Jeremiah Smith, who tallied a mere three yards against Texas. The superstar wide receiver will likely need to avenge that uncharacteristically quiet performance for the Buckeyes to best the Longhorns again.

Sarkisian is also deploying a new starting quarterback for this heavyweight showdown. The Arch Manning era will begin with a seismic test against a defense that allowed just 12.9 points per game last season.

FOX will air the epic Week 1 matchup between Ohio State and Texas on Aug. 30 at noon ET.