Texas @ Ohio State picks

Ohio State built its 2024 championship roster by retaining talent. Players who could have been third- or fourth-round NFL draft picks instead stayed in Columbus. However, that bill comes due quickly, as those players are now indeed in the NFL. The Buckeyes need to replace their entire backfield, an All-American left tackle and their top four defensive linemen, along with four more defensive starters. Ohio State has the talent to fill those spots, but in Week 1 against a fellow national title contender with more established pieces, the Buckeyes may be in a tough spot to start the season. The hype will be centred around Archie Manning, but Texas could dictate the outcome of this game with its backfield, a page out of Ohio State's 2024 playbook.