Is Arch Manning’s legacy in Texas on the line against Ohio State?
The Longhorns looked every bit like a national title contender during Week 1
For most quarterbacks, Week 2 of the college football season is simply another game on the schedule. For Arch Manning , it could become one of the defining moments of his college career.
The Texas Longhorns quarterback has accomplished plenty during his time in Austin.
He has carried the weight of one of football's most famous family names, helped keep the Longhorns among the nation's elite programs and delivered countless flashes of the talent that made him one of the most coveted recruits in recent memory. Yet one challenge continues to loom over his legacy.
Arch has never beaten Ohio State
That opportunity arrives on Sept. 12 when No. 5 Texas hosts No. 1 Ohio State in what is already shaping up to be one of the biggest regular-season games of the season. The matchup marks the third consecutive year the programs have met, and the Buckeyes have won each of the previous two contests.
Most notably, Ohio State opened the 2025 season with a 14-7 victory over a Texas team that entered the year ranked No. 1 in the country. The loss not only spoiled the Longhorns' championship aspirations out of the gate but also added another chapter to Ohio State's growing dominance in the series. Now Manning gets another shot.
Texas enters the showdown riding high after a 59-7 dismantling of Texas State. The Longhorns looked every bit like a national title contender, overwhelming their opponent from the opening kickoff and showcasing the depth that has made them one of the favorites to reach the College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes appear just as dangerous as ever
Ohio State opened its 137th season with a 56-3 demolition of Ball State, reminding the rest of college football why Ryan Day's program remains the standard in the sport. The victory also carried historical significance. Day earned his 83rd win as Ohio State's head coach, tying Urban Meyer for fourth place on the program's all-time wins list.
Before kickoff, Ohio State honored 30 senior players who have helped build one of the nation's most successful runs. Since the start of the 2023 season, those players have contributed to 38 victories, the second-most in the country, while helping the Buckeyes capture the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship.
The celebration continued during the first-quarter break when former head coach Jim Tressel was inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor, joining coaching legends Paul Brown and Woody Hayes. Ohio State piled up 671 yards of offense and looked nearly unstoppable through the air.
Quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and five touchdowns, while superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith continued to strengthen his case as one of the most dangerous players in college football. Smith finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two scores, repeatedly exposing Ball State's secondary.
The Buckeyes' offensive depth was equally impressive. Devin McCuin added 97 receiving yards and a touchdown, while five different players caught touchdown passes. On the ground, Ja'Kobi Jackson and Bo Jackson each rushed for 83 yards and a score. The defense was just as dominant.
