Texas Longhorns (0-0) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0)
August 30, 2025 12:00 pm EDT
The Line: Ohio State Buckeyes -2.5 / Texas Longhorns +2.5; Over/Under: 48
(Get latest betting odds)
The Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes meet in week 1 college football action from Ohio Stadium on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Texas vs. Ohio State prediction.
Texas Recap
The Texas Longhorns come into the 2025 season looking to take the next step forward after finishing the year 13-3 overall including a 7-1 mark in SEC play. The Longhorns would fall short in the SEC title game before taking out Clemson and Arizona State in the CFP Playoff before losing to the Buckeyes in the national semifinal. It’s the Arch Manning show in Austin this season, taking over from Quinn Ewers. CJ Baxter is back at running back with a hopefully clean bill of health at running back, and while the Longhorns have to replace Matthew Golden there’s potential with Ryan Wingo in his sophomore season after averaging 16 yards per catch on his 29 receptions last year as well as Kaliq Lockett who can make a case for the best receiver prospect in the nation. On defense, Anthony Hill JR. is back at linebacker after leading Texas with 113 tackles and 8 sacks along with 16.5 TFLs and four forced fumbles.
Why the Texas Longhorns will win
- Texas has won each of its last six season openers.
- Ohio State has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four season openers.
- Texas has covered the spread in five of its last six season openers.
Ohio State Recap
The Ohio State Buckeyes come into this game as your defending national champions, finishing 2024 with an overall record of 14-2 including 7-2 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes knocked off Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame on the way to their first national championship since the 2014 season and being the first national champ since 2007 with two losses on the year. Julian Sayin was slated to head to Alabama but is now the man at Ohio State and has his top receiver for 2025 in Jeremiah Smith, who caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Carnell Tate’s also back for his sophomore season while James Peoples has some large shoes to fill alongside CJ Donaldson who comes in from West Virginia to be 2025’s Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. On defense, Caleb Downs is back in Ohio State’s secondary alongside Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews JR., making up one of the more formidable units in the Big Ten.
Why the Ohio State Buckeyes will win
- Ohio State has won each of its last 11 games against non-conference opponents at Ohio Stadium.
- Texas has lost seven of its last eight games as an underdog.
- Ohio State has covered the spread in each of its last six games as a favorite against top-10 AP-ranked teams.
- Texas has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games against top-15 AP-ranked teams.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Ohio State’s last five games against non-conference opponents at Ohio Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of Texas’ last four season openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
Texas vs. Ohio State Prediction
I’m on the under in this one. It’s one I’d probably settle in and watch more from a fan’s perspective than to actually have a sizeable wager on it, but the thing is that you have a new QB in Julian Sayin for Ohio State in a heck of a spot against Texas in your first start of the year, and while Arch Manning has seen some action, this is still a crazy spot for your first start as well, on the road against the defending national champions. I think there’s going to be a bit of a feeling out process, and I think this is a game that hangs around the low to mid 40s, like a 24-20 or 24-21 kind of game. Give me the under.
