The Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes are set to face off against each other in one of the best games of college football’s kickoff weekend.
Both teams are expected to be potential national championship contenders. Of course, the Buckeyes are coming off of winning the championship last season.
Also of note, Ohio State and the Longhorns played in the Cotton Bowl last year with a trip to the national championship on the line. While the Buckeyes came out on top in that matchup, Texas will be looking for revenge in Columbus on August 30.
Heading into the game, there will be quite a few storylines to watch.
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One of the top stories will be Arch Manning’s first start as the full-time starter for Texas. Julian Sayin will also be making his first start as Ohio State’s lead man.
Jeremiah Smith will be another storyline to watch. After a dynamic freshman season last year, he’ll be looking to take his game up a notch to lead the Buckeyes on another championship run. Fans will have no shortage of entertainment.
With that being said, ESPN has now revealed their prediction for the showdown.
According to their matchup predictor tool, the Longhorns are being given a slight advantage. ESPN has given Texas a 53.3 percent chance to come out on top, as opposed to Ohio State’s 46.7 percent chance.
It’s just a prediction. No one can truly predict how a game will turn out.
Even with that being a factual statement, the prediction will give the Buckeyes some extra motivation. Being a defending champion and being the underdog in their first game of the 2025 season will give them a bit extra. As for the Longhorns, it’s an honor, but they’ll need to prove that they deserve the hype.
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ESPN will also be in Columbus for the big game. Lee Corso will be participating in his final appearance on “College GameDay.” That in and of itself will be a major storyline entering Saturday morning.
Expect to see the game live up to the hype. Both Ohio State and Texas are powerhouse football teams with elite talent, great coaching, and championship aspirations. It will be interesting to see who comes away with a huge win to start the season.
For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, Texas Longhorns, and college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
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