Texas HC Steve Sarkisian delivers strong statement on 2025 matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are going to be tested big time right out of the gates for the 2025 season with the Texas Longhorns making a trip to Columbus. It will be a rematch from the Cotton Bowl in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff between the two teams. Ohio State and Texas will […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes are going to be tested big time right out of the gates for the 2025 season with the Texas Longhorns making a trip to Columbus. It will be a rematch from the Cotton Bowl in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff between the two teams.
Ohio State and Texas will play on Aug. 30, and it will be a fresh start for both programs under center. The Longhorns will begin the Arch Manning era finally and the Buckeyes will likely be handing the keys to former Elite 11 winner Julian Sayin.
These non-conference matchups early in the season have not been all that common in today’s college football landscape due to the cost of losing. However, it is easier to schedule these games now with an expanded format.
“I love this opportunity,” Sarkisian said on a recent airing of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”. “I think it’s great for our players in the summer workouts and training camp to know who we’re getting ready to go play, the task at hand. I think now with the expanded playoffs, as long as we do not punish teams for going to play those games, then it’s great for college football. It is opening weekend, it’s Texas and Ohio State. It’s a rematch of the semifinal game of last year’s playoff. It’s great for their program, great for our program. That’s what the players we recruit, that’s the game they want to play in, they want to be in those big time games.”
Ohio State and Texas are two programs that recruit at the top of the sport, which is why you see them often going head-to-head for talented recruits. The Buckeyes beat Texas, 28-14 in January, and it was just one piece of their National Championship run.
Both programs are losing a ton of talent, but they will reload just as well. The early season non-conference game will be a clash right out of the gates and a good measuring stick early on. Ohio State will play Grambling and the Ohio Bobcats additionally out of conference.
Ohio State was originally scheduled to play Washington last season, but their jump to the Big Ten pushed that away. So, the Buckeyes weren’t tested in the 2024 non-conference games. That didn’t matter in the big picture and Ohio State was still able to reach their big goal.
While there is no time for the game since we are over five months out, expect the Buckeyes and Longhorns to battle it out in primetime on Aug. 30.
