It’s been 224 days since Texas’ season ended at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes. In their home state, against one of college football’s elite, it was a stark reminder to the program and its fans that Texas still had work to do to be considered “back.”
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Seven months later, we can accept some truths about that game that were easy to miss during Texas’ College Football Playoff run. Ohio State was the better team, full stop, and Texas isn’t Michigan.
The Buckeyes had seven players drafted in the first two rounds and another six between picks 115 and 185. None of those were even their best players—underclassmen Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs were.
Texas was also flawed. Special teams were downright terrible, though it didn’t impact the semifinal much, and fatigue and injuries caught up with the team by the end of the season. And yet, it felt like an even game outside of two huge, pendulum-swinging plays.
Both teams had glaring personnel flaws that made an otherwise elite game seem sloppy at times. Now, with the rematch just a week away, how have the two teams addressed their biggest problems?
Texas: Lack of Playmaking Depth
Take a look at this graphic—what stands out to you?
These are the number of touches, yards, and expected points added from the main Longhorn playmakers against Ohio State. It’s bad.
Texas was in the 15th percentile of expected points added per play as an offense overall and even worse when running the ball. Quintrevion Wisner saw more touches than this entire group combined, yet only contributed 88 yards. He added little value to the offense despite being the only one Quinn Ewers could regularly get the ball to.
The only players in the positives were Jaydon Blue, who scored twice; an injured Matthew Golden and Gunnar Helm, who was targeted just three times. Isaiah Bond was a non-factor, and Ryan Wingo did little on his six targets. The RBs and TEs accounted for almost half of Ewers’ targets.
Texas is hoping to alleviate these struggles in 2025 by leaning on some additions and ascending talents. Wingo and DeAndre Moore will be a year older and the main targets in the offense. Jack Endries should impact the game more than Helm did last year.
The running game should also be much more efficient. It won’t be Wisner taking 70% of snaps—Texas now has a healthy CJ Baxter and Christian Clark to relieve Wisner and hopefully add some explosiveness. With Arch Manning at the helm, Texas should be able to stretch the field more, creating opportunities to be more efficient in the run game. This is still a concern for Texas, but it shouldn’t be as poor as last year.
Ohio State: Getting Jeremiah Smith the Ball
Texas did a fantastic job of keeping the ball out of the hands of the best receiver in college football. It’s going to be hard to do that a second time.
Texas had a simple yet effective strategy that bracketed Smith and dared Ohio State to challenge Texas in a completely even front. Texas’ defense played phenomenally in that aspect, surrendering just one catch for three yards on one target to the playmaker.
But he’s a year older now, and the system will be different. New QB Julian Sayin has the arm talent to get balls to Smith that Will Howard couldn’t in 2024. Brian Hartline at OC has his own game plan to get his guys open, and no one knows pass-catching better than him in the college football world.
OSU will find Smith more in this game. Sayin has the arm to do so, and there continue to be other threats Texas must address in Carnell Tate, who torched them last year, and Purdue TE transfer Max Klare, an elite pass catcher.
Texas: Offensive Line Struggles
I’m not sure how much of a hot take this is, but I truly don’t think Texas’ LG–RT will be worse than last year’s. Cam Williams was flat-out bad in this game; he was the one who got beat on the Jack Sawyer strip-six. Hayden Conner was getting bullied by NFL DTs, and there was almost zero push in the run game.
Texas now possesses an interior offensive line built on power. Neto Umeozulu may be the strongest guy in that room; Cole Hutson is a natural guard playing center with people-moving abilities; DJ Campbell is going to play at a higher level.
The two question marks come at tackle, as Brandon Baker is being quickly thrust into a role he’s potentially not ready for. While he was a top tackle in the 2024 class, he’s a year behind Williams in terms of development, which means he may be even more likely to have pre-snap infractions or missed assignments.
And as much as we’re confident in Trevor Goosby, you can’t replace Kelvin Banks. It just won’t look as good. The offensive line, like the playmakers, is still an ongoing concern.
Ohio State: Dealing with Colin Simmons
Simmons feasted last season. On just 31 snaps he registered three pressures, two batted balls, and three stops in the run game. He had OSU RT Josh Fryar in a blender for most of the game, and the Buckeyes likely got away with multiple holding calls in key moments with Simmons coming off the edge.
Simmons won’t be playing 31 snaps next week. Try 45, with more coming as a pass rusher. How can Ohio State deal with arguably the most terrifying edge in the nation?
Their three tackles from 2024 are off to the NFL, meaning a new face will line up against Simmons on the right side. They brought in the giant Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa, but he’ll likely block Sayin’s blindside. That leaves Austin Siereveld with the task of marking Simmons. He played well for OSU last year, but that was at guard. Camp reports seem great for the third-year lineman, but he’s playing his first game in a new position against the very best. They are circling that matchup right now in Austin.
Texas: Involving the LBs
The semifinal was probably the worst game of Anthony Hill’s season—maybe his career. He was uncharacteristically off assignment and missed tackles we’d become accustomed to seeing him make. He didn’t look as athletic as usual, likely due to lingering injuries. Liona Lefau missed more tackles than he made and was a non-factor in the run-stuff game. Both allowed a catch on every target they were in coverage for.
If anyone played well in that game, it was David Gbenda, who intercepted Howard. He probably should’ve played more to end the year.
Still, Texas is running it back with Hill and Lefau, but they have reinforcements. Trey Moore is moving off-ball and should help in both the run game and pass rush. Ty’Anthony Smith is breaking out in camp right now and will play a lot. He’s a fierce tackler.
Texas has the luxury of health with Hill and Lefau, but those two must make an impact.