In one of the biggest games of the college football season, No. 1 Ohio State travels to Austin to take on No. 4 Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC) in a rematch of last year’s 14-7 Buckeyes win.
However, this year, both offenses are set to be much more potent, which is why my Ohio State vs. Texas combos and college football picks are heavy on playmakers and expect plenty of points on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Best Ohio State vs Texas combos for Week 2
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Ohio State vs Texas combo
When Ohio State and Texas played in Week 1 last year, it was the first start of Julian Sayin's career and the first road start of Arch Manning's.
The pair of former five-star recruits struggled, but both were among the best signal-callers in college football by season's end, and that's why my Ohio State vs. Texas prediction projects this year's game to more than double last year's total.
Manning had the highest QBR in the country from November onward last year (87.5), and Sayin finished No. 1 in the country in adjusted completion percentage (82.5%). They're two of the biggest Heisman Trophy odds favorites, and each has a projected Top 10 pick at wide receiver (Jeremiah Smith, Cam Coleman).
However, Ohio State's defense is also dealing with major turnover after having five players selected in the Top 62 of the 2026 NFL Draft (a modern-era record). In the end, Manning's offense will have the advantage because of it.
This is going to feel like a shootout compared to last year, and it's by far the No. 1 must-watch game in my college football Top 25 predictions this week.
Ohio State vs Texas player prop combo
Ohio State and Texas sit atop the college football national championship odds because they have two of the most talented rosters in the country, and they might even have the top two picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Smith is the best player in college football and was Top five nationally in receiving yards, yards per route run, and first-down receptions last season. He's also coming off a 151-yard first half against Ball State, his sixth game of 85+ receiving yards in his last eight outings (he's averaged 90.3 receiving yards per game for his career).
With Smith set to push a Texas secondary with multiple new starters and a new coordinator, Steve Sarkisian's offense will need to do the heavy lifting. With Manning having thrown 18 TD passes in his last seven games, he has the new toys to take advantage of an Ohio State back seven replacing four Top 62 picks.
The Longhorns added Coleman, Raleek Brown, and Hollywood Smothers in the portal to boost their playmaking corps, and Smothers' big-play ability will come in handy against Ohio State. He ranked top five in the ACC in breakaway rate last year (52.3%) and has rushed for 40+ yards in 13 of his last 15 games.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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