Ohio State’s 2025 season started a lot like it closed out its 2024 season. With a win over a top-10 team. The 14-7 win over Texas in Columbus on Saturday gave the Buckeyes their fifth straight win over a top-10 team, with two of those wins coming over the Longhorns. The victory over Texas extended Ohio State’s winning streak in season-opening games to 25 straight, which is the longest active streak in the country. Not only does Ryan Day now have a 25-5 record against non-conference opponents since taking over as Ohio State’s head coach, but Day has also led his team to eight straight victories against opponents outside the Big Ten.
Offensive Star of the Game: Ohio State’s offensive line
Watching both the Longhorns and Buckeyes on offense on Saturday afternoon wasn’t for the faint of heart. It was obvious that both teams were replacing a lot of skill position players since it was a struggle for each unit to even get a first down at times. While Texas finished with 336 total yards compared to the 203 yards Ohio State amassed, the Buckeyes had the edge on the scoreboard, which is the only thing that matters in the end.
Julian Sayin looked like a quarterback making his first college start, completing 13 of his 20 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. At least Sayin looked better than Arch Manning, who padded his stats late in the game on a few drives when Texas had no choice but to throw the football. The reason Sayin was able to look somewhat competent at times was because of the Ohio State offensive line.
What was most impressive about the performance from the offensive line was that they were able to keep their quarterback clean. Along with not allowing a sack in the game, the big uglies for the Buckeyes only conceded one tackle for loss. Reigning Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Colin Simmons was a non-factor at defensive end for the Longhorns, only registering two tackles after throwing some shade on Instagram following the announcement that Sayin would be the starting quarterback for Ohio State to open the season. The only notable play from Simmons in the game was a facemask penalty that kept a Buckeye drive alive.
The Ohio State rushing attack still needs some work, but it was effective enough when it needed to be. CJ Donaldson finished with 67 yards on 19 carries in his first game in scarlet and gray, scoring the first touchdown of the season for the Buckeyes on a one-yard rush in the second quarter. Sophomore James Peoples has some work to do after averaging just two yards per carry on his 10 totes. In defense of the running backs, the Longhorns were one of the toughest defenses to crack on the ground last year. Donaldson, Peoples, and the rest of Ohio State’s rushers should gain some confidence over the next couple of weeks with games coming against Grambling and Ohio.
Despite Day needing to find a new offensive line coach after Justin Frye moved on to the NFL, Ohio State seems to have found something that works by rotating some of its offensive linemen. It worked during the CFP run last year, and it paid dividends against the Longhorns on Saturday. With the season now longer than it ever has been, keeping the starters healthy and fresher is critical. If that means bringing some to the sidelines more often, then so be it. Even the backups of the Buckeyes could start for most teams in college football.
Defensive Stars of the Game: Arvell Reese & Jermaine Mathews Jr.
The biggest impact plays in the victory over Texas came from Arvell Reese and Jermaine Mathews Jr. Reese recorded the only sack of the game, while the interception by Mathews in the third quarter came inside the Ohio State 30. The interception was the second career pick by Mathews, who is taking over opposite Davison Igbinosun at cornerback this year. Between the efforts from Matthews, Igbinosun, and the rest of the Buckeyes in the secondary, Arch Manning failed to live up to the preseason hype that had him winning the Heisman Trophy and going on to be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One player who did live up to the hype heading into the season was linebacker Arvell Reese. Last year, Buckeye Nation got a taste of what Reese could do on the field as he saw some playing time, backing up Cody Simon and Sonny Styles. Now, Reese is teaming with Styles to form one of the most athletic linebacker duos in the country. Along with registering the only sack of the game, Reese finished with nine tackles and a pass breakup. By the time the season comes to a close, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Reese finish with 100 tackles and at least 10 tackles for loss.
Primed for a big game next week: Jeremiah Smith
Many were probably expecting more from Jeremiah Smith in the first game of his sophomore season. The truth is, Texas just feels like a bad matchup for the generational wide receiver. Smith only caught one pass in the Cotton Bowl in January, as the Longhorns shadowed him. While the coverage wasn’t as tight in this game, Smith had a hard time getting separation against the Texas secondary. There were also a couple of missed opportunities, as Smith dropped a couple of passes he should have hauled in.
Saturday’s game will likely be Smith’s toughest test of the regular season. The next couple of weeks will see Smith rack up stats against Grambling and Ohio before the Buckeyes step into conference play. Smith still led Ohio State with six catches, and his 43 yards receiving were second on the team, only trailing Carnell Tate, who got 40 of his team-leading 49 yards receiving on his touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. The more time on the field Smith has with Sayin, the more we’ll see them become more in sync.
Dud of the game: Arch Manning
This was supposed to be the season for the Longhorns to win it all. Arch Manning was finally taking his rightful place as the starting quarterback, and it was only a matter of time before he was awarded the Heisman Trophy and could decide if he wanted to be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if the team picking first was to his liking.
Instead, Arch Manning looked very much like a quarterback making his first start on the road. Manning was off with his passes for most of the game, although he looked like he finally found some rhythm when Texas was down 14-0 in the fourth quarter. Manning also was stuffed on 4th & goal at the one-yard-line, looking like he wanted no part of trying to muscle his way into the end zone.
Texas and Manning will likely be fine this season, and could even match up with the Buckeyes again in the College Football Playoff. Maybe Manning has some Heisman moments in games against Georgia and Oklahoma later in the season. One game you certainly won’t see on his highlight reel is the season opener against the Buckeyes, since Matt Patricia had his defense ready to shut down Manning.
If we’re being honest, if there is anyone who should be getting Heisman consideration coming out of this game, it’s Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, since he definitely was in the head of Manning and the rest of the Texas offense all game long.