Ohio State Edges Texas in Season Opener

Ohio State beats Texas 14-7 in Columbus, leveraging a late touchdown and sturdy defense in a tight opener.

Ohio State Edges Texas in Season Opener

Ohio State opened the season with a 14-7 win over Texas in Columbus, riding a fourth quarter touchdown from Julian Sayin to Carnell Tate and solid red zone defense. The Buckeyes controlled long drives and kept the Longhorns out of the end zone on several fourth down attempts, showing the resilience expected of a defending champion in a tough nonconference test.

Texas moved the ball but struggled to finish drives, going 1 of 5 on fourth down and twice failing in the red zone. Arch Manning finished with 170 yards through the air, a touchdown and an interception, while the Longhorns could not convert enough critical plays to swing momentum. Ohio State capped a methodical drive with a 1-yard score by CJ Donaldson Jr., and the defense bent without breaking, sealing the win when Caleb Downs stopped Texas one yard short on a late drive.

The result underscores how a disciplined defense and clock management can decide a close game even when the offense is uneven. Ohio State’s plan, guided by defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, kept Texas from sustaining long scoring drives and created room for a late offensive push. For Texas, the opener exposed a mix of high potential and persistent red zone issues that could shape the team’s approach in the weeks ahead. The matchup also demonstrates how early season rankings are fragile and driven by what teams show under pressure rather than pedigree alone.

Highlights

The season has started, and the playbooks will evolve as each team faces tougher tests.