Preseason No. 1 Texas Faces No. 2 Ohio State in Historic Week 1 Showdown to Open 2025 College Football Season
The 2025 college football season is set to open with one of the most anticipated Week 1 matchups in recent memory as the preseason No. 1 Texas Longhorns travel north to face the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in a colossal showdown on Saturday, August 30, at noon, inside the historic confines of THE Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. This rare top-two clash in the opening week of the season is more than just a blockbuster matchup—it’s a potential College Football Playoff preview, a Heisman showcase, and a measuring stick for two of the sport’s most tradition-rich powerhouses as they begin what could be championship-caliber campaigns.
Texas enters the 2025 season carrying lofty expectations under head coach Steve Sarkisian, who has methodically rebuilt the program into a perennial national contender since his arrival in Austin. Coming off a 2024 campaign that saw the Longhorns reach the College Football Playoff and narrowly lose in the national championship game to Michigan, Texas has reloaded rather than rebuilt. Leading the charge is junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, returning for another season after spurning the NFL for a chance to finish what he started. Ewers, who threw for 3,800 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2024, is one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy and will be tested early by a physical and experienced Ohio State defense.
Supporting Ewers is a potent offensive arsenal, including wide receiver Johntay Cook II and breakout sophomore tight end Will Randle. The Longhorns also boast one of the most versatile backfields in the nation with Cedric Baxter Jr. and freshman phenom Jerrick Gibson. Behind one of the deepest offensive lines in college football, the Texas offense promises to be a nightmare for defenses this season—if it can handle the environment in Columbus. Texas’s defense, led by senior linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and lockdown corner Malik Muhammad, has quietly become one of the most formidable units in the country, blending SEC-caliber speed with Big 12-style aggression. They’ll need all of it and more against an Ohio State team that has revenge, redemption, and legacy on its mind.
THE Ohio State Buckeyes are no strangers to the spotlight, and they will begin their 2025 season looking to remind the college football world of their place at the top of the sport. After a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw them miss the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year despite a one-loss season, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are entering 2025 with a chip on their shoulder and a retooled roster ready to compete for a national title. The quarterback battle in Columbus was one of the biggest offseason stories, and by August, junior signal-caller Devin Brown emerged as the starter after a strong spring and summer. Brown, who started the final three games of 2024, brings mobility, poise, and a cannon arm to the offense, and he’ll be working behind one of the nation’s most experienced offensive lines.
Where Ohio State truly shines is in its wide receiver room, which remains the gold standard in college football. Led by junior Brandon Inniss and sophomore Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes’ receiver corps is deep, fast, and explosive. The return of tight end Jelani Thurman, an emerging mismatch nightmare, gives Brown another weapon to stretch defenses vertically and over the middle. The Buckeye run game will be anchored by the powerful duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden, both healthy and primed for big seasons. On defense, Jim Knowles has built a nasty, aggressive unit that excels at limiting big plays and creating havoc. Defensive ends Jack Sawyer and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. form a pass-rushing tandem that should keep Ewers under pressure, while the secondary, led by Denzel Burke and Caleb Downs, could be the difference-makers in this game.
While both programs enter with championship aspirations, this game carries even greater weight because of its historical context. It is only the fourth time in modern college football history that the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams will meet in the opening week, and it is the first time Texas and Ohio State will face each other since their memorable home-and-home series in 2005 and 2006. In those contests, both teams split victories on the road, with Texas winning a legendary battle in Columbus en route to its national championship season. Now, nearly two decades later, another epic clash in Columbus could set the tone for the entire 2025 season.
Both fan bases are among the most passionate in the country, and THE Ohio Stadium, affectionately known as “The Horseshoe,” is expected to be at maximum capacity with over 100,000 fans creating one of the most hostile environments in the sport. For Texas, the challenge will be not just to execute against a talented opponent but to handle the noise, the energy, and the weight of expectation. A road win against Ohio State would be a signature victory for Sarkisian and a clear statement that Texas is ready to reclaim its place at the top of college football.
For Ohio State, this is about regaining the edge and swagger that have defined the program for decades. After consecutive losses to Michigan in 2022 and 2023 and a controversial loss in the 2024 Big Ten title game, the Buckeyes are hunting more than wins—they’re chasing respect, validation, and a return to glory. A win over No. 1 Texas would send shockwaves through the college football world and silence doubts about their status among the nation’s elite.
From a tactical standpoint, the game could come down to which offensive line can protect its quarterback more effectively. Both defenses are loaded with NFL talent and capable of disrupting timing and rhythm. Turnovers will be pivotal, and special teams could prove to be the X-factor in what is expected to be a close, hard-fought contest. Weather conditions are projected to be mild and clear, with temperatures in the low 70s—perfect football weather for a noon kickoff.
The implications of this game will extend far beyond Week 1. With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams this season, an early loss is no longer the death knell it once was. Still, the victor will have a clearer path to a first-round bye and home-field advantage, while the loser will face increased pressure for the remainder of the season. The strength of schedule, conference dynamics, and injury variables all mean that seizing momentum early in the season could prove invaluable down the stretch.
Recruiting, too, looms in the background. With both programs competing nationally for the top high school talent, a primetime national showcase is not just about wins and losses—it’s about brand, identity, and selling a vision to the next generation of superstars. The game’s impact will ripple through living rooms across the country, where four- and five-star prospects will watch closely to see which program looks ready to win now and in the future.
As kickoff approaches, the buzz around this game has reached a fever pitch. Ticket prices on the secondary market have soared, national media outlets have descended on Columbus, and pregame coverage is wall-to-wall. College football’s biggest voices—from analysts to former players—have dubbed this game a “mini national championship.” And in many ways, they’re right. These are two of the most complete teams in the country, each with the coaching, talent, and ambition to win it all. What better way to begin a new season than with a game that could define it?
There will be stars made and legacies shaped on that field come August 30. Will Quinn Ewers rise to the moment and lead Texas to a victory that echoes the triumph of 2005? Or will Ohio State’s relentless defense and deep offensive firepower prove too much to overcome in front of their home crowd? With the eyes of the nation watching and the stakes as high as they’ve ever been in an opening game, one thing is certain—college football is back, and it’s coming in hot.
