Overview
- The No. 1 Buckeyes will travel to face No. 4 Texas on Saturday, Sept. 12, in a highly anticipated Week 2 rematch that draws ABC’s national broadcast and ESPN College GameDay.
- Sportsbooks list Texas as a narrow favorite around -1.5 with the over/under near 49.5, while projection models give split views and SportsLine’s 10,000‑simulation model recommends the Under.
- Pre‑game analysis highlights three tactical keys for Ohio State: get consistent support for receiver Jeremiah Smith, win red‑zone stands, and protect the pocket against Texas’s aggressive blitz packages.
- Texas has shown early defensive aggression under coordinator Will Muschamp and has upgraded offensive line pieces, creating a matchup that tests Ohio State’s pass protection and front‑seven pass rush.
- The game carries added storyline weight because Ohio State won the last two meetings, ticket allotments for Buckeye fans are limited to about 3,800, and a strong road turnout in Austin could affect the atmosphere and momentum.