Why a Top Analyst Believes the Texas Longhorns Have the Blueprint to Dominate Ohio State in Columbus This Season

The upcoming clash between Texas and Ohio State in Columbus has college football fans and analysts buzzing. While many expect a tightly contested game between two storied programs, one analyst has come forward with a bold claim: Texas won’t just win — they’ll dominate. At first glance, the idea might seem like a stretch. After all, Ohio State hasn’t lost a regular season game at home since Oregon visited in 2021. But upon deeper analysis, the argument in favor of a Texas takeover in Columbus begins to carry weight.

The analyst, speaking anonymously to a national outlet, pointed to a convergence of factors that gives Texas the edge: roster continuity, elite quarterback play, trench dominance, and the timing of the game. Each of these elements plays a pivotal role in the prediction, and when examined together, they form a compelling case for why the Longhorns could leave Columbus with not just a win, but a statement.

Texas enters 2025 with momentum — and more importantly, structure. Under Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns are no longer a team living on preseason hype. They’ve become a proven product. Their College Football Playoff run last season wasn’t a fluke; it was the culmination of years of building, recruiting, and installing a system that blends offensive fireworks with physical, SEC-ready play on the defensive end. This year, Texas is armed with experience in key positions, a budding star at quarterback, and perhaps the best offensive line in the country.

That last point — the offensive line — is critical to the analyst’s argument. “This isn’t the Texas of 2017 or 2019,” the analyst said. “This group is deep, mean, and experienced. You’re talking about future first-round picks anchoring that unit. And when you look at Ohio State’s defensive line, you see talent, yes — but also inexperience and rotation.”

Texas’ front five, led by returning All-American Kelvin Banks Jr., has the size and mobility to control the pace of play. That means protection for their quarterback and an ability to impose their will in the run game, even against a typically stingy Ohio State defense. If Texas can win up front, the game may not even come down to a fourth-quarter drive.

Which brings us to the quarterback — the most important position in football. While Ohio State will likely still be sorting through their options or integrating a transfer, Texas will enter the game with Arch Manning, a player whose last name alone carries historic pressure, but who has, by all accounts, risen to every challenge. Manning is expected to be the full-time starter after sitting behind Quinn Ewers last year, and early reports from spring ball and player workouts suggest he’s every bit the five-star field general he was projected to be.

The analyst emphasized that Manning’s development is ahead of schedule. “He has command of the offense, the trust of his teammates, and something you don’t often see with young quarterbacks: poise in chaos,” they said. “If the Buckeyes try to bring pressure, he’s going to make them pay. He’s just too good at identifying coverages, and Sark’s offense thrives when it can go tempo and put stress on mismatches.”

Of course, no conversation about dominating in Columbus can ignore the environment itself. Ohio Stadium — The Horseshoe — is one of college football’s most intimidating venues. With over 100,000 fans packed in and the Buckeyes rarely losing on their home turf, it takes more than just talent to win there. It takes mental toughness, preparation, and composure. Texas, the analyst argues, is uniquely prepared for that. Not just because of their SEC transition — though that’s part of it — but because of their schedule and recent big-game exposure.

“Look at the games Texas has played the last two years,” the analyst said. “Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Big 12 title game. The CFP semifinal. They’ve seen everything, been everywhere. And they’ve taken the best punches from the best teams. That kind of experience builds a backbone.”

On the flip side, Ohio State is dealing with transition — perhaps more than most top-tier programs. Ryan Day’s squad lost several key contributors to the NFL Draft and is retooling at quarterback, wide receiver, and along the defensive line. While the Buckeyes are never short on talent, they could still be in search of rhythm early in the season. Timing, again, could be everything in this showdown.

“You don’t want to catch Texas in Week 2 if you’re still figuring out who your quarterback is,” the analyst noted. “Texas knows exactly who they are. Ohio State might still be learning.”

Defensively, Texas may also have the edge in physicality. While Ohio State’s secondary is always elite — and this year looks no different with five-star talent at multiple spots — the Longhorns’ linebackers and interior line have a reputation for punishing play. There’s NFL-caliber talent at every level of Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense, and while their cornerbacks might not be household names yet, they’re long, physical, and comfortable in man coverage — which could help neutralize Ohio State’s always-dangerous receiving corps.

Then there’s the play-calling. Steve Sarkisian is considered one of the best offensive minds in college football, with a knack for scripting early drives and adjusting mid-game. That’s an area where Texas could gain an upper hand. “Sark is a tactician,” the analyst said. “He studies you all offseason and finds the one thing you don’t do well. Then he makes you pay for it again and again. His opening 15 plays in Columbus are going to be surgical.”

The analyst made sure to clarify that none of this means Ohio State will be blown out or embarrassed. “They’re still Ohio State. They’re still going to make plays,” they said. “But dominance doesn’t always mean 45-10. It can mean a game where one team controls the tempo, wins the line of scrimmage, and never really lets it feel like the other team is close.”

And that’s the vision this analyst is putting forward: Texas going into one of the most hostile environments in the country, playing clean, efficient, physical football, and leaving with a two-score victory that leaves no doubt about their national title aspirations.

In that scenario, the implications would be massive. Texas would vault into the No. 1 or No. 2 spot nationally, and Arch Manning would instantly become a Heisman frontrunner. The Longhorns would also solidify themselves as not just SEC-ready, but SEC-dominant — something that many fans and critics have doubted since the announcement of the conference move.

On the other side, a loss like that would raise questions about Ohio State’s early-season readiness and spark inevitable debate about Ryan Day’s job security, especially if the Buckeyes again lose to Michigan later in the year. Fair or not, that’s the pressure cooker Ohio State exists in now.

The analyst’s argument isn’t just about matchups or schemes; it’s about timing, trajectory, and confidence. Texas, for the first time in over a decade, is a program on a direct path toward elite status — and this game, more than any other on the early schedule, offers a national platform to show it.

Columbus might be ready for another heavyweight clash, but if this analyst is right, only one of the teams will land the decisive blows. Texas has been waiting for a moment like this — a chance to assert itself against one of the game’s giants, in their house, under their lights.

That’s why the analyst believes Texas won’t just win. They’ll dominate.