It would normally be hyperbolic to say a game in Week One will be the biggest of the regular season, but we should not expect another No. 1 vs. No. 3 matchup as we are getting from the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes right out of the gates.
My Texas vs. Ohio State predictions and college football picks put trust in the more stable roster and coaching staff, no matter how talented both teams inarguably are. \Kickoff comes at 12 ET on Saturday, August 30.
Texas vs Ohio State prediction
Texas vs Ohio State Best bet: Texas moneyline (+100)
This is not a bet on Texas so much as it is a bet against Ohio State. Every level of the Longhorns' defense warrants national praise, and you may have heard of their quarterback, some guy named Arch Manning.
Texas deserves much of the hype it has gotten, even if some of the “Arch Manning for Heisman” thought process is outright foolish.
But the focus in this matchup is on the inflated belief in Ohio State. The Buckeyes put together one of the most dominant Playoff runs we will ever see to win last year’s national championship. They were led by an underappreciated and physical quarterback, effectively complementing a defense that was not praised enough.
That defense is gone. It returns exactly three starters, including none along the defensive line. Diabolical defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is gone, off to my national-title pick Penn State. Ryan Day replaced arguably the best defensive coordinator in the country with Matt Patricia, who has not been an effective on-field coach in nearly a decade.
A first-time starting quarterback with a first-time offensive coordinator should not be asked to pick up that slack in Week One, certainly not against a team of Texas’s quality.
My hot take for the 2025 college football season: Ohio State misses the College Football Playoff and it is all because of that school up north. https://t.co/Nx4XRBQh0M pic.twitter.com/T5YRu6dNRV
— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) August 27, 2025
Texas vs Ohio State same-game parlay
The intention here is to put faith in Texas's defensive line, creating pressure on Ohio State freshman quarterback Julian Sayin while shading a safety toward Jeremiah Smith at all times because the Buckeyes are going to miss No. 2 WR Emeka Egbuka more than most people realize.
The Buckeyes’ offensive line may develop as the season progresses, and a new young receiver could do the same. But this is not the moment to test out unproven commodities.
Our deep-ball SGP: Texas wins with defense
Ohio State's defense will regress in 2025, but it will still be quite good. All-American safety Caleb Downs is reason enough to trust it, not to mention veteran linebacker Sonny Styles. Expect Texas quarterback Arch Manning to be coached to not lose this game, to tuck and run when need be, and to create fit problems for Matt Patricia's defense.
Texas vs Ohio State odds
- Texas vs. Ohio State spread: Ohio State -1.5
- Texas vs. Ohio State moneyline: Texas +100, Ohio State -120
- Texas vs. Ohio State Over/Under: 47.5
Texas vs Ohio State betting trend to know
Texas has gone 3-0 against the spread in its first game against a Power Five opponent in each of the last three seasons. Those opponents? Alabama, Alabama, and Michigan. Find more college football betting trends for Texas vs Ohio State.
How to watch Texas vs Ohio State
| Location | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH |
| Date | Saturday, August 30, 2025 |
| Kickoff | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX, FOX One |
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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