Game Thread Texas at tOSU, Sat. Aug. 30th, TBA

[Jaxbuck]

I remember both of those '05/'06 games all so well, selective memory will direct me to '06 though. JL had one of the best performances I have seen from a LB that night. I have seen some great ones from guys like Big Kat, Hawk, Carpenter, etc. But that night JL might have had the best game I have watched in my lifetime. Ginn and Smith were incredible as well, that was such a fun team to watch.

Gotta be honest though, I hate this game being our opener. We lose over half our team and the conference slate looks rough. We need to be playing teams like this in the playoffs, not the opener. The excitement factor is definitely there for the game, but from a strategy perspective this could play out poorly with a widely new roster.


We are somehow awful in night games at the Shoe to my recollection. I hate waking up on MST that early on a Saturday but the team seems to play better for whatever reason at an earlier time. I love to watch the games under the lights, but this might be an advantage. It may make no difference, but I just remember quite a few disappointments at night in the Shoe and thinking that would be some advantage.

They are replacing a ton as well from what I have seen, no?

Just find a way to win and you have a big chip in your pocket for the CFP because I agree 100%, the B1G schedule is rough. If 2 losses is the magic number, we may very well be pushing it.

Day is going to have to cure his tsun problem, on the road in AA.

 

[RB07OSU]

They are replacing a ton as well from what I have seen, no?

Just find a way to win and you have a big chip in your pocket for the CFP because I agree 100%, the B1G schedule is rough. If 2 losses is the magic number, we may very well be pushing it.

Day is going to have to cure his tsun problem, on the road in AA.

To your first point, yes. We are pretty similar in that respect. We lose Howard, they lose Ewers. They lose a big part of their very good defense, same for OSU. But there is no erasing that JJ is back, that is going to be a big factor imo. I need to see our defense, but Game 1 is what worries me with losing 8 guys and having a new DC...obviously I hope that pans out. But hard not to forget Sawyer, JT, Tyleik, Hamilton, Simon, Burke, Hancock, Ransom. If we don't rebound on defense, we are in trouble.

Second point, you are dead on. That is my exact concern, it won't keep me awake at night (or it will), but a quick loss could be an issue. I have confidence in a win, but if it doesn't happen it could be an issue over the long haul.

We know our respective opinion on tcun. If we do not beat those cheating bastards up north, I will revolt. But Day will not let that happen after this Natty. It just won't happen and the tide being turned on that one will happen. Bring in JT, UFM, freaking raise Woody from the grave, I don't care how it is done. Just win that damn game and everyone that feels differently can respectfully eff themselves. In the meantime, beat the Longhorns again.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Second point, you are dead on. That is my exact concern, it won't keep me awake at night (or it will), but a quick loss could be an issue. I have confidence in a win, but if it doesn't happen it could be an issue over the long haul.

Yeah, after Texas you have 5 road games (UW, Illinois, Wisky, Purdue and tsun) that OSU should win on paper but five road games is five road games. All of those places are sneaky tough at best and damn hard to win in at worst.

Consider the home game against PSU at home it would be really nice to bank a W in that Texas game because you have to think, realistically, that they will drop one of those six games that I would classify as "testers" (UW, UI, Wisky, Purdue) or "toss ups" (PSU and tsun).

On the positive side of it, if they can run that '25 gauntlet with just 1 loss (or less and it isn't against tsun, then start working on the Day lifetime extension and commemorative statue because he will have earned it.

 

[ScriptOhio]

They are replacing a ton as well from what I have seen, no?

Just find a way to win and you have a big chip in your pocket for the CFP because I agree 100%, the B1G schedule is rough. If 2 losses is the magic number, we may very well be pushing it.

Day is going to have to cure his tsun problem, on the road in AA.

Paul Finebaum Predicts 'Rocky' Start to Texas Longhorns 2025 Season

Even while the hype for the beginning of the Arch Manning era in Austin continues to build, there are still those who are pumping the brakes on the predictions

www.si.com

Paul Finebaum Predicts 'Rocky' Start to Texas Longhorns 2025 Season​

As the Texas Longhorns are set to open up the 2025 season on the road versus the Ohio State Buckeyes, some aren't as confident they will start the year 1-0.

Even while the hype for the beginning of the Arch Manning era in Austin continues to build, there are still those who are pumping the brakes on the predictions for the upcoming season for the Texas Longhorns.

SEC Network personality Paul Finebaum is one of those warning against the high expectations and hype surrounding the new era of Texas football.

"I think everyone knows what Texas has lost, but Sarkisian has recruited about as well as anybody in the country," Finebaum said recently on his SEC Network show. "He's gotten some key elements in the portal. He has what, I think, is one of the safest bets in America on the starting quarterback job. I'm not concerned about that.

"I think it'll be a little rocky. I think it's going to be tough to go up to Ohio State in that first game."

The Longhorns will find out very quickly what all they have. Traveling to Columbus and having to play the defending national champions at their house certainly won't be easy. No matter what all they lost on paper from this past season.

Yet, considering the tendency for Finebaum to make headlines for his hot takes and bold predictions, This take - if you even want to call it one - is very tame by the SEC Network personality.

The Longhorns are losing a considerable amount of production from the team that helped them make it to back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals. So have the Buckeyes. Both sides will have a new starting quarterback, who will be surrounded by a relatively new-looking supporting cast.

This will undoubtedly make for an interesting matchup as the two sides that just met in the Cotton Bowl will meet again in what could be the first of two matchups between the two programs next season.

Just sayin':
1. This site will show you who The horns lost and the transfers they got (so far).

2025 Texas Longhorns Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.

www.ourlads.com

2. With the championship secured, focus now shifts to the 2025 season opener against the Texas Longhorns. Just hours after the season concluded, early betting lines have surfaced, with the Buckeyes opening as 4.5-point favorites in the highly anticipated matchup.


3. I'll say the challenge for the Buckeyes in the game will be to not let Manning beat you with his legs.

 

[calibuck]

Yeah, Manning came in (against the Buckeyes in playoffs), and squirted for 14 yards (or somesuch). Put CJ on him in upcoming season, and make him beat tOSU with his arm. As noted elsewhere, Texas loses 4 OL starters, but do have a nice stable of newbies. Recollect they've got a 5* tackles that tOSU wanted desperately (Baker, I believe) who might be ready for primetime. Anyway, off season and spring ball will tell the tale, and both teams appears to be elite heading into 2025. Always interesting, and speculation abounds. Go Bucks!

 

[RB07OSU]

Yeah, Manning came in (against the Buckeyes in playoffs), and squirted for 14 yards (or somesuch). Put CJ on him in upcoming season, and make him beat tOSU with his arm. As noted elsewhere, Texas loses 4 OL starters, but do have a nice stable of newbies. Recollect they've got a 5* tackles that tOSU wanted desperately (Baker, I believe) who might be ready for primetime. Anyway, off season and spring ball will tell the tale, and both teams appears to be elite heading into 2025. Always interesting, and speculation abounds. Go Bucks!

Interesting point that both teams are losing a lot of guys, but have also recruited really well of course. Think about the matchups and how little we probably know how it will play out. We lose Howard, they lose Ewers. We lose 3 starting OL (though you could argue some our guys are basically starters on Hinzman, Montgomery, Siereveld and to some extent Padilla with his reps), they lose almost everyone. Really about the same goes on defense.

At least we are at home, but I have a feeling this will be another close match and injuries/portal pickups could influence it. Don't you love the early offseason? Just hard not to get excited for this one even with my prior caveats about this being a dangerous first game.

 

[calibuck]

Might as well mention that the 5* OT we coveted, Baker (?), should be in line for a starting position for Texas. tOSU is going with more experienced (portal) tackles, while Bowen develops those on our roster. Guess we'll see the tale between two QBs, Manning vs Sayin/TSC. Go Bucks

 

[ScriptOhio]

The Ohio State football program has high odds to repeat as champions​

The Ohio State football program is favored to repeat as champions in 2025.

The Ohio State football program was able to win the first 12-team College Football Playoff. It's the second time that they have won a national championship with a new format to the CFP. They won the first College Football Playoff back in 2014 and won it last year when it increased to 12 teams.

If the Buckeyes want to win a title every year, they should just hope for expansion. Next season, they lose a lot of players from their title team, especially on defense. The Buckeyes only bring back three starters from that unit. Offensively, they bring back just two, although they have multiple offensive linemen who played a lot of snaps.

With the Ohio State Buckeyes losing that many starters, it wouldn't be surprising to see them struggle. Yet, that's not what is projected to happen. In fact, the Buckeyes are the favorites to win again in 2025, meaning they are predicted by the oddsmakers to be the first team to repeat since Georgia.

The Ohio State football team is favored to repeat as national champions​

Vegas oddsmakers have Ohio State as +500 to win the title in 2025. They are tied with Texas, who also has +500 odds. These two teams play each other in the first game of the season, so it will be a really good season-opener for college football fans.

There's a very good chance that these two teams open up as top-three teams in the country. Texas knows who their starting quarterback is, while the Buckeyes have to have a competition to figure out who it will be. Still, they have Jeremiah Smith, who might be the best player in all of college football.

Smith is going to help whichever quarterback they choose to be the starter. He is the ultimate weapon. Having both Smith and Caleb Downs on the roster is a big reason why the Buckeyes are favored to repeat.
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continued

 

[Bill Lucas]

Fuck Texas.

 

[RB07OSU]

Fuck Texas.

Amen. May Curry be the next scoop and score.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I remember both of those '05/'06 games all so well, selective memory will direct me to '06 though. JL had one of the best performances I have seen from a LB that night. I have seen some great ones from guys like Big Kat, Hawk, Carpenter, etc. But that night JL might have had the best game I have watched in my lifetime. Ginn and Smith were incredible as well, that was such a fun team to watch.

Gotta be honest though, I hate this game being our opener. We lose over half our team and the conference slate looks rough. We need to be playing teams like this in the playoffs, not the opener. The excitement factor is definitely there for the game, but from a strategy perspective this could play out poorly with a widely new roster.


We are somehow awful in night games at the Shoe to my recollection. I hate waking up on MST that early on a Saturday but the team seems to play better for whatever reason at an earlier time. I love to watch the games under the lights, but this might be an advantage. It may make no difference, but I just remember quite a few disappointments at night in the Shoe and thinking that would be some advantage.

Yeah we aren’t good at home in general vs good OOC teams lol

But you have to get this to a night game. I doubt they will but damn they should.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

Yeah, Manning came in (against the Buckeyes in playoffs), and squirted for 14 yards (or somesuch). Put CJ on him in upcoming season, and make him beat tOSU with his arm. As noted elsewhere, Texas loses 4 OL starters, but do have a nice stable of newbies. Recollect they've got a 5* tackles that tOSU wanted desperately (Baker, I believe) who might be ready for primetime. Anyway, off season and spring ball will tell the tale, and both teams appears to be elite heading into 2025. Always interesting, and speculation abounds. Go Bucks!

It’s always a LOS game. They lose a bunch up front and we return an OL core that lead us through the playoffs.

If the defensive line is as disruptive as we might all think then there shouldn’t be any issues.

I’m not a Manning fan. I think he’s overrated and I think he’s going to have a world of trouble with a defense as talented as ours in the backend.

Just want to see how the DL plays tbh

 

[scarletngray]

Glad that it's a home game.

 

[RB07OSU]

Glad that it's a home game.

That's always my gut because it should be a huge advantage, but as @Captain Buckeye pointed out we have a pretty bad track record at home against OOC teams and it baffles me...all of those were night games as well.

I believe all of that predates Day though, so we are just living with a ghost on that topic since every year is different even if there was a previous pattern. This game really needs to be under the lights and our crowd is going to be raucous for an opening primetime game after a national championship. It will be a tough win to open the season but all of those factors should (on paper) be a huge advantage for us.

My big concern aside from some superstition from past history is of course the exodus of talent and amount of guys playing significant minutes in the Shoe for the first time in that big of a game. This team has enormous potential but we just need to see the rubber meet the road, so I am tempering expectations on this game in particular and also keeping in mind if we do lose it is not the end of the season like it used to feel.

 

[calibuck]

Agree with the Captain and RB, on most everything said. It's a 'convince me' thing with Manning, and seeing what our new OC DC's have cobbled together for the Buckeyes, as well as how tOSU's QB plays, whomever it may be. Here's hoping that the Buckeyes start quick, and the 'Shoe is rocking all night long. Cause it'll be the same the year after, when the Scarlet & Gray heads down to Austin. Go Bucks!