Ryan Day Acknowledges Immense Pressure Facing Arch Manning and Texas in Week One Showdown to Define Ohio State’s 2025 Campaign Early
When the 2025 college football schedule was released, one game immediately jumped off the page: Texas at Ohio State, Week One. Two blue-blood programs. Two rabid fan bases. And two of the sport’s most famous quarterback names—Arch Manning and the Buckeyes’ eventual starter, likely Julian Sayin—colliding on a Saturday night in front of a primetime national audience. As if that wasn’t dramatic enough, the game also marks a high-stakes measuring stick for both programs. For Ryan Day, this isn’t just a game—it’s an early referendum on everything Ohio State has built.
Speaking to reporters during the second week of preseason camp, Day didn’t shy away from the magnitude of the matchup. In fact, he embraced it.
“Hosting Texas in Week One—it’s a challenge, no doubt,” Day said. “They’ve got talent, they’ve got one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and they’re going to come in hungry. But if you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat teams like that. We’re going to find out who we are really fast.”
That kind of candor from Day wasn’t always his default posture. In past seasons, he was known for his calculated, measured responses—especially when it came to early-season games. But something about this Texas matchup, and the current state of Ohio State football, has shifted his tone. Maybe it’s the urgency of proving his program belongs back in the national title conversation. Maybe it’s the pressure of needing a strong start with a roster widely viewed as championship-ready. Or maybe it’s simply the reality that the Buckeyes are no longer granted the luxury of easing into their season.
This game is not just big—it’s colossal. Texas enters the season coming off a strong playoff run in 2024 and returns a loaded roster under Steve Sarkisian. But more than anything, they bring with them Arch Manning, the quarterback carrying not just the weight of a name, but also Heisman expectations and legitimate top-pick NFL hype. Manning has improved steadily since his freshman season, and by 2025, he’s become the face of college football.
To host that quarterback, with that team, in that spotlight, is a tall task for any program. But for Ohio State, it comes with added pressure. The Buckeyes haven’t won a national title since 2014, and despite fielding rosters full of five-stars and producing waves of NFL talent, the big-game narrative still hovers. Win this game, and the doubts start to fade. Lose it, and the noise will grow instantly louder.
“We know what’s at stake,” Day said. “You don’t get warm-up games anymore. Not in this era. Every week matters, but when you’re opening against a team like Texas, you better be ready to go from the first snap.”
For the Buckeyes, preparation for this game has already shaped much of the preseason. The quarterback competition between Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair remains the most closely watched storyline in Columbus, and Day has emphasized that the decision will be made based on who can handle the moment, not just who looks good in drills.
“You’re not just preparing to play a game,” Day noted. “You’re preparing to face one of the best defenses in the country, with a front that gets after the quarterback, in front of 100,000 fans and millions watching. That’s different. That’s why we’re evaluating everything.”
Sayin, the five-star true freshman, has looked poised in early camp sessions, building chemistry with a deep and dangerous receiver group that includes Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss. He’s shown the arm talent and anticipation that made him the top quarterback in his class, but Day is still hesitant to commit to a starter. That hesitation is less about indecision and more about gravity. Whoever takes that first snap against Texas isn’t just starting a game—they’re stepping into one of the most high-pressure situations imaginable for a college quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Texas defense is no joke. Their front seven is veteran-laden and physical, and their secondary has the length and speed to match up with Ohio State’s elite receivers. Sarkisian’s staff knows how to scheme pressure, disguise coverages, and rattle young quarterbacks. It’s the exact kind of test that can define a season—or derail it.
And then there’s Arch Manning. The nephew of Peyton and Eli, and the grandson of Archie, has emerged as more than just a famous last name. He’s grown into one of the most polished, efficient quarterbacks in the nation. In 2024, he led Texas to the Playoff and engineered multiple fourth-quarter comebacks. His poise in the pocket, deep-ball accuracy, and command of Sarkisian’s offense have made him a true star. He’s the reason many are picking Texas to win the SEC in their first year in the conference.
Day didn’t downplay the challenge of facing him.
“Arch is as good as advertised,” Day admitted. “He’s smart. He’s accurate. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. You can see the maturity. He’s been coached his whole life, and it shows. You’ve got to play a complete game to beat a guy like that.”
But it’s not just about Arch Manning. It’s about the moment. About how Ohio State responds to the spotlight. About whether the Buckeyes can take a game dripping in hype and turn it into a statement win.
There’s a historical undercurrent to the matchup, too. Ohio State and Texas have only met a handful of times, but each contest has been memorable. Vince Young’s game-winner in Columbus in 2005. Troy Smith’s revenge tour in 2006. Now, nearly two decades later, the two programs meet again, each believing they have the roster to win it all. But only one will leave Week One still in full control of their narrative.
And for Ryan Day, that narrative is everything. Fair or not, he knows that every major game is now a referendum on his leadership. Every misstep is fuel for critics. Every loss stirs up whispers about toughness, identity, and the infamous “can’t win the big one” stigma that lingers in corners of the media.
That’s why Day’s tone this preseason feels sharper. More direct. There’s less coach-speak, more accountability.
“We’ve built this roster to win games like this,” he said. “This is why you come to Ohio State—to play on this stage, against that caliber of opponent, in front of that crowd. That’s what separates us. And now it’s time to show it.”
He’s not wrong. The Buckeyes are loaded. Their wide receiver room is once again the best in the country. Their defensive line is deep and experienced. Their secondary has playmakers. And their offensive line, which struggled at times in recent years, appears to be more cohesive and physical under new coaching. There’s no glaring weakness—just questions about execution and leadership.
And that brings the focus back to the sideline. If Ohio State wants to be taken seriously as a national title threat, they need to win games like this not just with talent, but with discipline, strategy, and edge. They need to control the tempo, make in-game adjustments, and out-tough an opponent that will come in believing they’re better.
“It’s about who sets the tone early,” Day said. “Who lands the first punch. Who handles adversity. Because there’s going to be adversity in that game. That’s guaranteed.”
The Buckeyes will be counting on their veterans—linebackers like C.J. Hicks, corners like Denzel Burke, and receivers like Tate and Smith—to steady the ship if things get tense. But more importantly, they’ll need Day himself to lead with confidence and clarity. Because this isn’t just about scheming for Arch Manning. It’s about managing the weight of expectations. About showing that Ohio State doesn’t just recruit at a championship level—it executes at one.
As kickoff draws closer, the excitement builds. College football fans everywhere are circling the date. Recruits will be watching. NFL scouts will be watching. The whole country will be watching. And Ryan Day knows exactly what this game means.
“There are certain games that stick with you,” he said. “Games that define who you are as a program. This is one of them. There’s no getting around that.”
He’s right. Whether Ohio State wins or loses in Week One, the narrative begins there. A win launches the Buckeyes into the Playoff spotlight and validates the offseason hype. A loss, and the questions begin immediately—about quarterbacks, about Day, and about whether the Buckeyes are once again all flash and no finish.
Ryan Day has admitted the stakes. He’s accepted the challenge. Now, all that’s left is to meet the moment. In one of the biggest opening games in recent memory, with Arch Manning standing on the other sideline, Ohio State’s 2025 season starts with pressure—and a shot at glory.
