Overview

• Kickoff is set for Saturday at noon ET on FOX at Ohio Stadium in Columbus in a rematch of last season’s CFP semifinal won by Ohio State.
• Texas turns to Arch Manning for his first season-opening start, while Ohio State names redshirt freshman Julian Sayin the starter for his first career start, with Ryan Day emphasizing simply finding a way to win.
• Betting markets list Ohio State by roughly 1.5–2.5 points with totals around 47.5, reflecting a tight matchup and modest scoring expectations.
• Manning leaned into the week’s narrative by saying Texas has “a red dot on everyone else,” as ESPN’s Chris Fowler advised him not to try to be “Superman” in his debut at Columbus.
• Coverage notes significant roster change since January’s meeting, with differing counts of NFL departures reported, and highlights Texas’ strong returning defense, while the AP reports Manning added a Warby Parker deal with an ad set to air during the game.