Ohio State vs. Texas: Lessons from rewatching the 2025 game

As part of our early look at Buckeyes vs. Longhorns in 2026, Bill rewatched the 2025 game in Columbus to see if there's anything to learn ahead of OSU's trip to Austin.

Will Ohio State vs. Texas in 2026 be another No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup? (Fox)

COLUMBUS — As part of our early look at Ohio State’s 2026 trip to Texas, I decided to go back and rewatch the TV broadcast of the Buckeyes’ 2025 win in Ohio Stadium. The hope is that some new things jumped out, or that at least things were remembered, that might be instructive about the upcoming meeting, the third between these two teams in as many years.

I kept the rewatch to the TV copy only. I didn’t pore over the all-22 again. I was less interested in a hardcore schematic breakdown and more interested in the vibes of that game, and what it might tell us about what’s coming this year.

What follows is a diary of sorts, a stream-of-consciousness look at what I was thinking as I rewatched Ohio State’s 14-7 win.

First Quarter

• Texas trots out a starting lineup for Arch Manning at quarterback; Quintrevion Wisner at running back; Ryan Wingo, Parker Livingstone, and DeAndre Moore at receiver; Jack Endries at tight end; and Trevor Goosby, Connor Stroh, Cole Hutson, DJ Campbell, and Brandon Baker on the offensive line. Only Manning, Wingo, Goosby, and Baker are back this year.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s starting defense features Kenyatta Jackson, Kayden McDonald, Eddrick Houston, and Caden Curry on the defensive line; Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese at linebacker; and Jermaine Mathews Jr., Davison Igbinosun, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Caleb Downs, and Jaylen McClain in the secondary. Only Jackson, Houston, Mathews, and McClain are back this year.

This is where each team will have the most new faces in the 2026 game: Texas on offense and Ohio State on defense.

• After Texas picks up 14 yards on a CJ Baxter run on the fifth play of the game, the Longhorns go empty, and Fox broadcaster Gus Johnson says of Manning, “Remember, he’s got incredible wheels.” It’s a bit of hyperbole. It’s Gus, after all. But Manning is mobile, and this is at least the third time in the broadcast that Johnson has mentioned it. That tells me it came up often in Fox’s production meetings with the coaching staffs. It remains astonishing that Manning didn’t run more against the Buckeyes. I suspect he will the second time around.

• Third-and-eight for Texas on the opening drive. Arvell Reese lines up inside on the line of scrimmage. He gets one-on-one with right tackle Brandon Baker, a 304-pound tackle and a former five-star prospect. It looks like a grown man rushing against a boy. Reese tosses him and chases Manning, forcing the quarterback to throw on the run short of the sticks.

Baker was Texas’ weak link on the offensive line in this game, allowing five pressures and committing two penalties. He allowed 23 pressures on the season, and now Texas is moving him to guard with the expectation that Wake Forest transfer Melvin Siani will start at right tackle. I’ll be wondering about that right side of the offensive line against Ohio State. Reese is gone, but players like Kenyatta Jackson and Christian Alliegro play with similar strength and violence. I’d line them up over Baker early and see what happens.