Brett Ludwiczak
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Ohio State’s home opener against Texas is the biggest in school history
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas will likely be the highest-ranked team to come to Columbus for an Ohio State season opener.
Even though the college football season ended less than two months ago, the 2025 campaign can’t start soon enough. A huge reason why there is so much anticipation for the upcoming season is because Ohio State will start the defense of their national title in style by welcoming the Texas Longhorns to Columbus on Aug. 30.
Adding even more intrigue to the colossal clash is the teams met in a College Football Playoff semifinal back in January, with the Buckeyes earning a 28-14 victory. Ohio State sealed the game with a titanic stand at the goal line that ended with a Jack Sawyer “scoop and score” that is one of the most memorable moments in Buckeye football history.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25903176/2192787376.jpg "Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Ohio State v Texas")
Photo by CFP/Getty Images
It’s not hyperbole to proclaim that the game between Texas and Ohio State in late August is the biggest season opener the Buckeyes have ever played. Over the years Ohio State has played just a handful of ranked teams to open up the season. The most recent occurrence was back in 2022 when Notre Dame came to Columbus ranked fifth in the country.
Prior to that game, the last time the Buckeyes opened the season against a ranked team was following their 2002 national title season, hosting 17th-ranked Washington to kick off their title defense in 2003.
Much like the 2003 and 2015 seasons, Ohio State is going into the 2025 season with big questions following a national championship season. While Craig Krenzel returned at quarterback in 2003, the Buckeyes didn’t have Maurice Clarett on the field after the star running back was suspended indefinitely during the offseason and would never take another snap in the scarlet and gray.
Ohio State handled their business against the Huskies at home, opening up the season with a 28-9 victory. Despite having to deal with the drama surrounding Clarett, Jim Tressel’s squad would go on to finish the season with a respectable 11-2 record, closing out the year with a win over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
After defying the odds to win the 2014 title in the first year of the College Football Playoff with Cardale Jones taking the snaps for the final three games of the season, 2015 was shaping up to be a dream season for the Buckeyes since not only were J.T. Barrett and Jones back in Columbus, Braxton Miller would also be returning after missing the 2014 season with a shoulder injury.
Add in running back Ezekiel Elliott, defensive end Joey Bosa, and a bunch of other key players from the title team staying in college to try and repeat as national champs. Unfortunately an unimaginative gameplan in nasty conditions against Michigan State late in the regular season denied the Buckeyes a playoff spot. Instead, Urban Meyer’s team would have to settle for a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame.
Luckily for the loser of the tilt between the Buckeyes and Longhorns, a loss doesn’t eliminate them from playoff contention. Both Ohio State and Texas lost two games in the regular season last year before hosting on-campus first round CFP games. With the way the playoff is currently constructed, a loss wouldn’t even really hurt when it comes to earning a first round bye since this game isn’t a conference game.
The winner of the season opener would be able to stick an early feather in their cap since they would be able to tout a win over one of the best teams in the country before the calendar even turned to September.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25903177/2192047613.jpg "Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Texas v Arizona State")
Photo by Jason Allen/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Both Ohio State and Texas could use a little bit of a buffer period as the 2025 season starts since they both will have new starting quarterbacks. While Ryan Day hasn’t announced a starter yet, the favorite to win the job is Julian Sayin, who was one of the top-ranked quarterback recruits in the country coming out of high school.
On the other side, Texas will turn to Arch Manning after Quinn Ewers has decided to move on to the professional level. Manning does have the benefit of starting a few games last season, although he won’t have a lot of the same weapons to work with as he did in 2024.
Along with breaking in a new quarterback, Ryan Day will also be working with new offensive and defensive coordinators. At least on the offensive side Day has familiarity working with Brian Hartline, since the former Buckeye receiver has been on the coaching staff for a number of years.
What remains to be seen is how Hartline takes to calling plays on offense. While Hartline’s first stint as play-caller lasted about five minutes, it feels like Ryan Day has more trust in Hartline this time around, especially after Hartline was able to learn from Chip Kelly last year.
The bigger question is how the defense is going to look with new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The hiring of Patricia has been met with some skepticism from Ohio State fans, especially considering Patricia’s spotty coaching record that started when he took over as head coach in Detroit in 2018. Results of defenses he had a hand in after he was fired by the Lions in 2020 have been underwhelming.
At least Patricia will have a couple of veterans to lean on in Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles on the field.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25903178/2191975036.jpg "Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential - Ohio State V Oregon")
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Hopefully this game between the Longhorns and Buckeyes doesn’t get the “Big Noon treatment” by FOX. Not only will a noon game in late August possibly be uncomfortably hot for fans in attendance, this type of game deserves to be under the lights.
There’s no question this is the biggest home opener in school history, there could be an argument made that it could be the biggest non-conference game in school history. I was at the 2005 game between these teams in Columbus. While the stakes won’t be quite as high since in the BCS era there was no room for error, the atmosphere will be top notch since it will be the first time Ohio State takes the field in a real game since raising the natty back in January.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas will likely be the highest-ranked team to come to Columbus for an Ohio State season opener.
Even though the college football season ended less than two months ago, the 2025 campaign can’t start soon enough. A huge reason why there is so much anticipation for the upcoming season is because Ohio State will start the defense of their national title in style by welcoming the Texas Longhorns to Columbus on Aug. 30.
Adding even more intrigue to the colossal clash is the teams met in a College Football Playoff semifinal back in January, with the Buckeyes earning a 28-14 victory. Ohio State sealed the game with a titanic stand at the goal line that ended with a Jack Sawyer “scoop and score” that is one of the most memorable moments in Buckeye football history.
It’s not hyperbole to proclaim that the game between Texas and Ohio State in late August is the biggest season opener the Buckeyes have ever played. Over the years Ohio State has played just a handful of ranked teams to open up the season. The most recent occurrence was back in 2022 when Notre Dame came to Columbus ranked fifth in the country.
Prior to that game, the last time the Buckeyes opened the season against a ranked team was following their 2002 national title season, hosting 17th-ranked Washington to kick off their title defense in 2003.
Much like the 2003 and 2015 seasons, Ohio State is going into the 2025 season with big questions following a national championship season. While Craig Krenzel returned at quarterback in 2003, the Buckeyes didn’t have Maurice Clarett on the field after the star running back was suspended indefinitely during the offseason and would never take another snap in the scarlet and gray.
Ohio State handled their business against the Huskies at home, opening up the season with a 28-9 victory. Despite having to deal with the drama surrounding Clarett, Jim Tressel’s squad would go on to finish the season with a respectable 11-2 record, closing out the year with a win over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
After defying the odds to win the 2014 title in the first year of the College Football Playoff with Cardale Jones taking the snaps for the final three games of the season, 2015 was shaping up to be a dream season for the Buckeyes since not only were J.T. Barrett and Jones back in Columbus, Braxton Miller would also be returning after missing the 2014 season with a shoulder injury.
Add in running back Ezekiel Elliott, defensive end Joey Bosa, and a bunch of other key players from the title team staying in college to try and repeat as national champs. Unfortunately an unimaginative gameplan in nasty conditions against Michigan State late in the regular season denied the Buckeyes a playoff spot. Instead, Urban Meyer’s team would have to settle for a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame.
Luckily for the loser of the tilt between the Buckeyes and Longhorns, a loss doesn’t eliminate them from playoff contention. Both Ohio State and Texas lost two games in the regular season last year before hosting on-campus first round CFP games. With the way the playoff is currently constructed, a loss wouldn’t even really hurt when it comes to earning a first round bye since this game isn’t a conference game.
The winner of the season opener would be able to stick an early feather in their cap since they would be able to tout a win over one of the best teams in the country before the calendar even turned to September.
Both Ohio State and Texas could use a little bit of a buffer period as the 2025 season starts since they both will have new starting quarterbacks. While Ryan Day hasn’t announced a starter yet, the favorite to win the job is Julian Sayin, who was one of the top-ranked quarterback recruits in the country coming out of high school.
On the other side, Texas will turn to Arch Manning after Quinn Ewers has decided to move on to the professional level. Manning does have the benefit of starting a few games last season, although he won’t have a lot of the same weapons to work with as he did in 2024.
Along with breaking in a new quarterback, Ryan Day will also be working with new offensive and defensive coordinators. At least on the offensive side Day has familiarity working with Brian Hartline, since the former Buckeye receiver has been on the coaching staff for a number of years.
What remains to be seen is how Hartline takes to calling plays on offense. While Hartline’s first stint as play-caller lasted about five minutes, it feels like Ryan Day has more trust in Hartline this time around, especially after Hartline was able to learn from Chip Kelly last year.
The bigger question is how the defense is going to look with new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The hiring of Patricia has been met with some skepticism from Ohio State fans, especially considering Patricia’s spotty coaching record that started when he took over as head coach in Detroit in 2018. Results of defenses he had a hand in after he was fired by the Lions in 2020 have been underwhelming.
At least Patricia will have a couple of veterans to lean on in Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles on the field.
Hopefully this game between the Longhorns and Buckeyes doesn’t get the “Big Noon treatment” by FOX. Not only will a noon game in late August possibly be uncomfortably hot for fans in attendance, this type of game deserves to be under the lights.
There’s no question this is the biggest home opener in school history, there could be an argument made that it could be the biggest non-conference game in school history. I was at the 2005 game between these teams in Columbus. While the stakes won’t be quite as high since in the BCS era there was no room for error, the atmosphere will be top notch since it will be the first time Ohio State takes the field in a real game since raising the natty back in January.
Continue reading...