“Texas Tops Preseason Coaches Poll, Ohio State Lands at No. 2—Setting the Stage for a Historic No. 1 vs. No. 2 Clash to Open the 2025 College Football Season”
The 2025 college football season is already off to a thunderous start—weeks before a single snap has been taken. The USA TODAY Sports AFCA preseason Coaches Poll has officially placed the Texas Longhorns at No. 1 and the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 2, setting the stage for a historic showdown to open the season. When these two powerhouses collide, it will not only be a marquee matchup in name recognition and tradition but an ultra-rare clash of the top two teams in the nation. This seismic Week 1 duel now holds even more weight, as it becomes a de facto early College Football Playoff game, bursting with implications for national championship hopes, Heisman Trophy campaigns, and legacies that will be remembered long after 2025 is in the books.
In the ever-evolving landscape of college football, matchups like this are increasingly difficult to schedule, and even harder to have line up with national rankings in such dramatic fashion. Yet here we are, with the Texas Longhorns earning the No. 1 spot in the Coaches Poll for the first time since the days of Vince Young, and the Ohio State Buckeyes—winners of multiple national championships and a perennial playoff contender—settling just behind them in the No. 2 slot. For Texas, the ranking is a statement of arrival, a loud and clear message that the Longhorns are back and ready to command the sport. For Ohio State, it’s business as usual, another season of sky-high expectations with a roster built to win now.
Both programs come into the season opener with loaded rosters, elite coaching staffs, and fanbases that span the globe. For Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, the No. 1 ranking is validation of a rebuild that has taken the Longhorns from mediocrity to dominance in just a few short years. Sarkisian has assembled a deep, balanced squad that includes a Heisman-caliber quarterback, explosive skill position players, and a defense that ranked among the nation’s best in 2024. Their dominant finish last season and aggressive recruiting have pushed them to the top, and the No. 1 ranking reflects both their past achievements and future potential.
Ohio State, on the other hand, is led by Ryan Day, a coach who has built a machine in Columbus. The Buckeyes, as always, are loaded at every level—boasting a top-tier quarterback room, a wide receiver corps that might be the best in the nation, and a defense that has steadily improved under the guidance of veteran defensive minds. The No. 2 ranking feels familiar for a team that has lived in the top five for most of the past decade, but make no mistake—being second to Texas is a motivator that will fuel their preparations for the season opener.
This game, which will be played in primetime at AT\&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, promises to be more than just a football game—it’s a spectacle, a statement, and a celebration of what college football can be at its highest level. The stakes are enormous. The winner will likely claim the No. 1 spot outright, putting themselves in pole position for the College Football Playoff and sending a message to the rest of the nation. The loser, while not out of contention, will have an uphill battle ahead, especially with loaded conference schedules waiting in the wings.
For Texas, the matchup represents a chance to cement their return to national relevance. After more than a decade of disappointment, the Longhorns are finally fulfilling their promise. A win over Ohio State in the season opener would be a signature moment in Sarkisian’s tenure and a defining milestone in the program’s journey back to the top. It would also give Texas a psychological edge, affirming that they can go toe-to-toe with the sport’s elite and come out on top.
Ohio State, meanwhile, enters the matchup with its own sense of urgency. While the Buckeyes are no strangers to big games, recent seasons have included painful losses to Michigan and playoff heartbreak. A win over the top-ranked Longhorns would be the ultimate way to begin a redemption tour and reclaim their spot atop the college football mountain. It would also serve as a strong response to critics who question whether Ryan Day can win the biggest games against elite opposition.
Both teams have quarterbacks who are more than capable of leading them to victory. Texas will likely be led by a dynamic playmaker with a cannon for an arm and the mobility to extend plays under pressure. He’s surrounded by a versatile backfield, lightning-fast receivers, and a mammoth offensive line that dominates the trenches. Defensively, Texas will look to bring pressure early and often, testing Ohio State’s new offensive wrinkles while forcing turnovers that can swing momentum.
The Buckeyes, for their part, have a quarterback who is mature, poised, and battle-tested. He has the luxury of throwing to a receiving group that includes All-American candidates and future first-round NFL picks. Ohio State’s offensive line is stout, physical, and designed to control the pace of the game. On defense, they’ve improved in both scheme and execution, with a defensive line that can wreak havoc and a secondary that prides itself on lockdown coverage. The key will be whether they can slow down Texas’s explosive offense and impose their will defensively.
Off the field, the magnitude of this game cannot be overstated. Ticket prices have already skyrocketed, and television ratings are expected to be through the roof. ESPN, FOX, and every major sports network will descend upon Arlington, turning the game into a media event of Super Bowl-like proportions. There will be wall-to-wall coverage, pregame specials, celebrity appearances, and endless debate about which team has the edge. It’s the kind of environment that both Texas and Ohio State thrive in, and it’s one that will test every facet of their preparation, from player focus to coaching strategy.
Historically, No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups are rare in college football and often deliver unforgettable moments. Think of 2006’s “Game of the Century” between Ohio State and Michigan. Think of Alabama vs. LSU in 2011. These games define seasons and become instant classics. This Texas vs. Ohio State clash has all the ingredients to join that pantheon. It features two iconic programs, legendary fanbases, massive talent, and a national spotlight. The winner will likely ride a wave of momentum through the rest of the season, while the loser will have to regroup quickly in a college football world that shows little mercy.
Both teams also face gauntlets beyond Week 1. Texas enters an SEC schedule that includes battles against Georgia, Alabama, and LSU. Ohio State, in its first year under a newly expanded Big Ten, must contend with Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and USC. This opening contest could very well determine which team has the margin of error to survive a brutal regular season and still make the playoff. That makes every snap, every possession, and every decision in this game potentially season-defining.
Coaches across the country are watching too. Recruits will be glued to their TVs, imagining themselves in the uniforms of either program. NFL scouts will use this game to evaluate talent under pressure. College football fans, even those with no allegiance to Texas or Ohio State, will be drawn to the drama, the intensity, and the sheer spectacle of what promises to be the most anticipated season opener in recent memory.
In an era where playoff expansion has altered the postseason landscape, and where conference realignment continues to reshape traditions, this game offers something pure and powerful: the two best teams in the country, facing off on a level playing field, with nothing but their skill, preparation, and heart to separate them. It’s a celebration of the sport, a reminder of why college football captures the imagination like few others.
As August turns to September and kickoff draws near, anticipation will only build. Training camps will intensify, storylines will emerge, and fans will count the days until Texas and Ohio State take the field. And when they do, the world will be watching—not just because it’s No. 1 versus No. 2, but because games like this are rare treasures in the landscape of sports. They come with the weight of history and the thrill of the unknown.
When the final whistle blows in Arlington, one team will emerge victorious and carry the No. 1 ranking into the heart of the season. But both programs will have proven, simply by being here, that they are standard-bearers for the sport’s future. Whether it’s Texas announcing its full-fledged return to dominance or Ohio State reaffirming its place among the elite, one truth is undeniable: the 2025 college football season is beginning with a bang. And we are all lucky enough to witness it.
