The Game of the Week Arrives in Austin
The game of the week has arrived: No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) travels to No. 4 Texas (1-0) on Saturday night in a matchup that will help shape the trajectory of both programs’ seasons. Last year’s meeting in Columbus was a defensive slugfest that Ohio State won 14-7 — a scoreline that barely told the story of just how ugly both offenses looked. This year, the two teams meet under the lights in Austin instead of a noon kickoff, and after both squads posted 50-plus point performances in Week 1, expectations for offense are considerably higher.
Ohio State vs. Texas: Date, Time, and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Site: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
- TV/Streaming: ABC, ESPN+, Peacock
Ohio State vs. Texas Odds and Betting Lines
According to DraftKings, as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Texas (-118), Ohio State (-102)
- Spread: Texas -1.5 (-110)
- Total: 49.5 points
For context, this game’s total sits well above last season’s line, when the two teams combined for just 21 total points. Oddsmakers are clearly expecting a much more explosive rematch this time around.
Texas Longhorns: Season Snapshot
- Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian
- 2026 Record: 1-0
- Offensive Points Per Game: 59 (T-3rd nationally)
- Defensive Points Per Game: 7 (T-9th nationally)
- 2026 Strength of Schedule: 72nd
Texas’ offense looked unstoppable in its 59-7 win over Texas State, scoring at least 10 points in every quarter and compiling 516 total yards. Arch Manning threw for 305 of those yards and four touchdowns, while Texas’ running back committee added three more scores on the ground at a combined 4.3 yards per carry. Cam Coleman hauled in two touchdown catches, Ryan Wingo added 121 yards, Emmett Mosley IV chipped in 37 yards on three catches, and running back Hollywood Smothers even scored through the air.
The picture wasn’t as clean on defense. Texas allowed 349 total yards, 18 first downs, and let Texas State convert 8 of 14 third downs. The Longhorns did produce one of the highlights of the day with a 59-yard fumble return for a touchdown, but the overall performance showed some real gaps for a defense that will face a much tougher offensive test this week.
Texas Player to Watch (Offense): QB Arch Manning — Manning is looking to shake off a rough head-to-head history against elite competition. In his career, he’s 0-5 combined against Georgia and Ohio State, including an 0-2 record as a starter. Last year against the Buckeyes, he posted one of his worst statistical outings of the season: 170 yards on 17-of-30 passing with one touchdown and one interception. His Week 1 performance this year (305 yards, four touchdowns, 74.1% completion) suggests real growth, but Saturday is his chance to finally prove it against the exact opponent that’s given him the most trouble.
Texas Player to Watch (Defense): EDGE Colin Simmons — A projected top-10 NFL Draft pick, Simmons is one of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football. He posted nine sacks as a freshman and 12 as a sophomore, with three forced fumbles in each season. He’s still hunting his first sack of 2026 after a tackle and fumble recovery in Week 1, and expect Ohio State’s offensive line to account for him on nearly every passing down.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Season Snapshot
- Head Coach: Ryan Day
- 2026 Record: 1-0
- Offensive Points Per Game: 56 (6th nationally)
- Defensive Points Per Game: 3 (6th nationally)
- 2026 Strength of Schedule: 100th
Ohio State’s offense didn’t miss a beat in its 56-3 win over Ball State, racking up 671 total yards (434 passing, 237 rushing) with seven different players combining for eight total touchdowns. Julian Sayin threw three touchdown passes and added a rushing score of his own, while the offense converted both of its fourth-down attempts and went 5-of-11 on third down. The receiving corps was especially deep, with Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin, Legend Bey, and Chris Henry Jr. all finding the end zone. One concern worth monitoring: Ohio State was flagged nine times for 81 yards, discipline the Buckeyes will need to clean up on the road against Texas.
Defensively, Ohio State was every bit as dominant, allowing just 165 total yards, including only 45 rushing yards on 23 carries, while recording seven tackles for loss and six pass deflections. The Buckeyes held Ball State to 3 of 15 on third and fourth down combined and won the first-down battle 32-14.
Ohio State Player to Watch (Offense): WR Jeremiah Smith — Smith was a monster in his 2026 debut, catching eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns — the fourth-most receiving yards of his career. It was the seventh time in 30 career games he’s caught at least eight passes, and the ninth time he’s scored multiple touchdowns in a game. The catch: Texas has been the one opponent that’s consistently slowed him down. Smith managed just six catches for 43 yards in last year’s win over the Longhorns, and a single catch for three yards in the 2024 Playoff quarterfinal. Saturday represents his third shot at finally breaking through against Texas specifically.
Ohio State Player to Watch (Defense): DL Kenyatta Jackson Jr. — Despite not recording a single stat against Ball State, Jackson is viewed by many evaluators as a potential second- or third-round NFL Draft pick. He posted 6.5 sacks last season, tied for second on the team, and had three tackles in last year’s game against Texas. According to team officials, he’s continuing to trend upward heading into this matchup.
Ohio State and Texas Betting Trends to Know
- Both teams are 1-0 against the spread and 1-0 to the Over so far this season.
- Last season’s Ohio State-Texas matchup hit the Under, with Ohio State covering the spread.
- Ohio State finished last season 10-3-1 ATS, tied for second-best nationally.
- Texas finished last season 5-7-1 ATS.
- Ohio State went 10-4 to the Under last season, tied for fifth-most in the country.
- Texas went 7-6 to the Under last season.
- Ohio State is 3-3 ATS as an underdog since 2018, but 5-1 to the Over in those games — including a perfect 5-0 to the Over in its last five games as an underdog.
Expert Pick and Best Bet for Ohio State vs. Texas
Handicapper Vaughn Dalzell is leaning toward Ohio State +1.5 in this matchup, citing the Buckeyes’ track record in high-stakes games compared to Texas’ 0-5 combined record against Georgia and Ohio State over the past three seasons. His top player prop pick centers on Jeremiah Smith finding the end zone: across 12 career non-conference games, Smith has scored a touchdown in 10 of them — with Texas representing both games he was held out of the end zone. Dalzell’s view is that a third straight shutout of Smith by Texas would be a genuinely rare outcome, making the “Smith to score a touchdown” prop one of the more appealing bets on the board this week.
Why Ohio State vs. Texas Is the Biggest Game of Week 2
Between the No. 1 ranking, the inside track to a No. 1 College Football Playoff seed, and multiple Heisman Trophy hopefuls looking to bolster their case on a national stage, this matchup checks nearly every box for a marquee college football event. Add in the specific narrative of Jeremiah Smith and Arch Manning both trying to author breakthrough performances against the one opponent that’s given them trouble, and Saturday night in Austin has all the makings of the best game of the season so far.
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
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