Ohio State and Texas meet for the third consecutive season, and what happens Saturday will once again carry heavy implications for the postseason.
The No. 4 Longhorns seek their first win in this three-game stretch against the No. 1 Buckeyes, who won the season opener in 2025 in Columbus 14-7. Texas out-gained Ohio State, but the Longhorns struggled to score until Arch Manning pulled them into the game late in the fourth quarter. Will a full year as the starting quarterback, along with the addition of superstar skill players Cam Coleman and Hollywood Smothers, provide Manning the edge he needs Saturday night inside Darrell K Royal Stadium?
The Buckeyes replaced eight starters from its No. 1 defense a year ago, but the new faces picked up where their predecessors left off by holding Ball State to only 165 yards and three points last week. The offense remains explosive, led by Heisman Trophy hopefuls Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes scored 56 points in the season opener last week.
The game also offers a rare sight: Ohio State visiting an SEC stadium. The Buckeyes have only played an SEC team on the road once — a 13-13 tie against LSU in 1987.
Buckle up for the game of the week — and maybe the season — in college football.
Keep it locked here as CBS Sports provides you with live updates, highlights and analysis as Ohio State battles Texas on Saturday night.
Steve Sarkisian tried a reverse, but it failed on fourth-and-2 for a 10-yard loss. Ohio State now has the ball with 49 seconds remaining on Texas' 49-yard line.
Texas' defense stepped up again in the red zone, holding Ohio State to a 30-yard field goal. Jeremiah Smith had to slow down and adjust to catch a 43-yard pass, and then the offense stalled as Texas sacked Julian Sayin twice on the ensuing plays.
The scoring drive went 63 yards over 4 minutes, 1 second.
Texas' training staff appeared to massage Arch Manning's throwing hand during the television broadcast. Something to monitor here with 2 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Ohio State has the ball.
Texas capitalized on its defense stopping Ohio State on fourth down, kicking a 37-yard field goal.
Arch Manning wasn't impressive on the final two plays of the drive. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. sacked him on second-and-9, and then he overthrew Cam Coleman, who was streaking across the middle of the end zone.
Manning is 4 of 9 passing for 31 yards. Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown were the highlights on the drive. They have combined for 59 yards on 12 carries tonight.
Ohio State defensive end Zion Grady had to be helped off the field with a limp with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter. He was taken directly to the Buckeyes' injury tent.
Update: Grady has exited the injury tent and is riding a stationary bike on the sideline.
Ohio State kept its offense on the field on fourth down, and Texas' defensive line stepped up to stop another promising Buckeyes drive with 13:21 remaining in the first half.
Ja'Kobi Jackson picked up only one yard on fourth-and-2 at Texas' 13-yard line. It's clear that Ohio State is trying to send a message as the more physical team. The Buckeyes have run the ball 15 times, including three straight before that fourth-down stop.
The Buckeyes are threatening to score again after Bo Jackson picked up six yards on a third-and-3 run up the middle at the end of the first quarter. Ohio State will begin the second quarter at Texas' 21-yard line.
Ohio State outgained Texas 119-5 in the first, and Arch Manning's only completed pass was for a 4-yard loss and fumble on the first play of the game. Texas has managed only one first down to go along with two turnovers, including the wild interception off Cam Coleman's body deep down the field.
Manning is 1 of 3 passing for minus-4 yards and one interception. Julian Sayin has been his usual efficient self, completing 6 of 9 balls for 77 yards.
If the Buckeyes go up 17-0 here, it almost feels like that could be the game.
Julian Sayin hit Jeremiah Smith a few times and JaKobi Jackson finished it off with an 8-yard touchdown run up the gut on third-and-4 to extend Ohio State's lead to 10-0.
The 10-play, 81-yard drive followed the wild interception by the Buckeyes when a would-be catch wobbled out of the hands of Cam Coleman and ricocheted into the air as he rolled toward the turf.
The Buckeyes have 92 yards compared to the Longhorns' nine yards (and two turnovers) ... on only five plays.
Cam Coleman got wide open across the middle, seemingly caught a pass over his shoulder, but he didn't seem to get control of the ball as he hit the ground. The impact forced the ball out of his hands, jettisoning it into the air and into the hands of Ohio State's Jaylen McClain.
It's about as freaky a play you'll see today, and suddenly, Ohio State has the ball again at its own 19-yard line following Texas' second turnover in five plays.
Texas' defense stood tall inside the 20, holding Ohio State to a 26-yard field goal off the foot of Dalton Riggs. The Buckeyes had six plays to get into the end zone but stalled.
There are no moral victories, but that could have been a lot worse after the game-opening fumble. It'll be interesting to see what Texas runs on offense after the upcoming kickoff. Is the script already thrown out the window?
Texas' first play is a quick screen to Raleek Brown, who is belted by Ohio State's Jay Timmons. The hit led to a fumble and Timmons recovered the ball at Texas' 16-yard line.
The worst start you could imagine for the Longhorns at home.
We were treated to a flyover during the National Anthem here at Darrell K Royal Stadium. Kickoff is moments away.
Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver in the country, and there's a very good chance he will be a top-five NFL Draft pick next spring.
However, in his two career games against Texas, Smith has been held in check. In those games, Smith has a combined seven receptions for 46 yards and zero touchdowns. If Ohio State is going to win on the road tonight, Smith will probably have to break through against the Longhorns secondary.
So, who will be lined up across from Smith most often this time around? Well, the most intriguing option would be sophomore Kade Phillips, a five-star recruit in the 2025 signing class who has enormous potential.
The last time Texas beat the top-ranked team in the country, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was No. 1 at the box office, and "Whatever You Like" by T.I. topped the billboard charts.
That was when the Longhorns took down No. 1 Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. Fullback Cody Johnson had one fewer rushing touchdown (three) than rushing yards (four), and Jordan Shipley went off for 112 receiving yards and a score.
Can Texas end its drought without a win over No. 1 tonight? The Horns are 5-12 all-time against top-ranked teams, but they are the slightest of favorites at home against the Buckeyes. If Texas does pull out a win, it may very well take Ohio State's spot atop the rankings.
This is the definition of a heavyweight fight, and there will be NFL talent all over the field. With that much firepower on both sides, there is very little daylight between Texas and Ohio State.
This week, David Cobb went through each position to see which team had the edge. It was especially close at quarterback, where each side has a legitimate Heisman Trophy hopeful in Julian Sayin and Arch Manning. Ultimately, the game may be decided in the trenches, and the battle between the Longhorns' front seven and the Buckeyes' offensive line will be critical.
Everybody is here for the Ohio State-Texas game. Even this Michigan fan I spotted outside Darrell K Royal Stadium two hours before kickoff.
Coming out of last year's loss to Ohio State in Columbus, the hype around Manning fizzled tremendously. He completed just over half of his passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That performance was part of a slow start to Manning's 2025 season before he picked up steam and elevated his game down the stretch.
Now Manning has to prove he can do it against a bona fide national championship contender like the Buckeyes. Some NFL scouts are still skeptical that Manning is an early first-round talent right now, but a big game on Saturday would quiet those critics.
Arch Manning was thrown into the fire in Week 1 last season. He improved as the game progressed, prompting questions about whether he would have beaten the Buckeyes later in the season. Now he has more weapons, including receiver Cam Coleman, a better understanding of how to lead the offense, and the support of 100,000-plus fans at DKR. Texas covers and beats Ohio State. Texas -1.5 -- Brandon Marcello
