The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns meet in Austin for one of the potential best games of the college football season.
Ohio State may have the best offensive talent in the land, but the strides that Longhorns QB Arch Manning made last season should make for more offense in this matchup than last season.
Here are my Ohio State vs. Texas touchdown picks and college football picks for Saturday, Sept. 12.
Best Ohio State vs Texas anytime touchdown picks
| Pick |  Odds |
|---|---|
| Bo Jackson | -140 |
| Arch Manning | +130 |
| Chris Henry (Longshot) | +340 |
| Arch Manning + Jeremiah Smith | +298 |
Ohio State touchdown pick: Bo Jackson -140
Bo Jackson is the strongest Ohio State touchdown option, even if it's the chalkiest.
Texas will devote plenty of attention to Jeremiah Smith after his two-touchdown opener, creating cleaner looks for Ohio State’s backfield in scoring territory.
The matchup to target is Texas’ defensive front with downhill runs, especially when Smith’s presence forces lighter boxes.
The 2025 offense ranked No. 1 nationally in net EPA per play and averaged 37.9 points per game, giving it multiple ways to finish drives. Bo’s physical running style should translate well if this becomes a red-zone and short-yardage game.
Not to mention, scoring in goal-to-goal situations in such a hostile environment is much more feasible on the ground rather than forcing balls into tight windows.
I think this has value up to 62%.
Texas touchdown pick: Arch Manning +130
Texas can target Ohio State’s aggressive defensive front with designed quarterback keepers, scrambles, and movement throws that pull edge defenders away from their lanes.
Obviously, this gets more pronounced in high-leverage situations near the goal line, where Arch Manning’s mobility gives the offense an additional gap for the Buckeyes to defend.
Manning threw four touchdown passes in the opener, showing the scoring upside of this Texas offense, but his rushing path is the reason to consider him here.
Ohio State’s pressure and pursuit can create openings if Manning escapes containment. At 41%, his dual-threat profile diversifies the Texas touchdown card.
Ohio State vs Texas long shot touchdown scorer pick: Chris Henry +340
Chris Henry gives Ohio State a useful red-zone matchup against Texas.
The freshman scored on his only catch in the opener, and his 6-foot-6 frame gives Julian Sayin a large target when the field compresses.
Texas will have to shade coverage toward Jeremiah Smith while accounting for Ohio State’s run game, creating opportunities for Henry on isolated boundary routes, curls, and back-shoulder throws near the goal line.
Devin McCuin established himself as a key part of the receiving rotation in Week 1, but Ohio State’s multiple-receiver formations should continue to create favorable matchups for its younger options.
Henry’s physicality and ability to win above the rim give him a clear path to a touchdown if Texas prioritizes stopping Smith.
Ohio State vs Texas touchdown parlay +298
- Arch Manning
- Jeremiah Smith
Arch is my favorite touchdown option to back in this game, so I'll include him here. I'll add a familiar face in Jeremiah Smith; what better stage for the best receiver in college football to showcase his talent.
Texas will need to commit resources to the run and account for Ohio State’s pressure packages, creating opportunities for Smith on isolated outside routes and red-zone fades.
Smith brings explosive receiving upside, while Manning's off-script self-creation ability gives him a ton of value in a game that could see the trenches in several chaos situations.
You can also pretty much guarantee both players have high volume throughout.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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