The defending national champions won’t have to wait long for a challenge. In one of the most anticipated matchups of Week 1, Ohio State kicks off the season against the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns—a team loaded with talent, swagger, and national championship expectations.

Texas enters the 2025 campaign boasting the best defense in the country and a Heisman frontrunner at quarterback: Arch Manning. With an elite supporting cast and momentum from a strong offseason, all signs point to the Longhorns being the team to beat this year.

On the other side, Ohio State comes in fresh off a national title, but not without questions. The Buckeyes lost a significant number of players to the NFL Draft and will be leaning on a younger core to carry the torch. The biggest unknown? The quarterback position.

Enter Julian Sayin, a former five-star recruit with sky-high potential. The season opener will be his first true test under center, and there may be no tougher welcome than facing the top defense in the nation. Sayin’s performance could set the tone for the rest of the season—and potentially his legacy in Columbus.

Still, the Buckeyes aren’t short on star power. Defensive anchor Caleb Downs, along with explosive receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, headline a roster that remains among the most talented in the country. And with the season opener taking place in the electric atmosphere of Ohio Stadium, “The Shoe” will be rocking from the opening snap.

While Texas may be the betting favorite and boasts the higher ranking, Ohio State’s home-field advantage, elite skill talent, and championship pedigree could prove enough to edge out the Longhorns in what promises to be a defensive slugfest.

Prediction: A close, physical battle—but the Buckeyes squeak out a statement win in front of a packed house in Columbus.