Texas slips in season opener

Texas struggles in the Manning era as it falls 14-7 at Ohio Stadium, showing far more work needed than early hype suggested.

Texas loses to defending champion Ohio State in season opener

Texas opened the 2025 season with two fourth-down attempts on the opening possession, but CJ Baxter was stuffed on a 4th-and-2. The Longhorns managed only seven yards in the first half and went 1-for-7 on third downs, with Arch Manning completing five of ten throws and only one finding a target. Ohio State did not score in the first quarter but grabbed a 7-0 lead in the second on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that was helped by a Texas facemask and defensive holding penalties.

In the second half, the Buckeyes extended the lead after a 4th-down plunge by CJ Donaldson, and a 40-yard touchdown catch by Carnell Tate put Ohio State up 14-0. Parker Livingstone finally got Texas on the board with a 32-yard score, pulling Texas within seven with 3:28 remaining. A late drive stalled at midfield after a 30-yard catch by Cal transfer Jack Endries, and Manning could not complete the comeback on a 4th-and-5 scramble that fell short.

The result lays bare the growing pains of a No. 1-ranked program in transition. Manning showed flashes of potential, but the offense looked out of sync and short on consistent answers in critical moments. Texas also paid for self-inflicted mistakes, with penalties extending Ohio State drives and breaking the drive rhythm Texas needed to sustain any momentum. The coaching staff faces a steep learning curve as it blends new talent with game-management decisions in real time.

This game serves as a reminder that preseason buzz does not substitute for week-to-week improvement. Texas has the talent, but the schedule already tests the team’s ability to translate practice into performace. Moving forward, cleaner execution, sharper red-zone finishing, and disciplined defense will be the bar by which this season is measured, not the hype surrounding a talented freshman quarterback.

Highlights

The road to consistency starts with accountable, growth-minded play from everyone on the field.