Texas vs Ohio State Showdown: Date, Odds, and Key Storylines Fans Need to Know

Top-3 Clash Looms in Columbus as Longhorns Meet Buckeyes Kickoff, TV & Streaming Details Texas vs Ohio State kicks off Saturday, August 30 at 12 p.m. ET inside Ohio Stadium and airs nationally on FOX, with authenticated streaming on the Fox Sports app. Betting Odds & Line Movement Sportsbooks opened Ohio State as a 1.5-point home favorite, a line that has held steady all week; the total sits at 47.5 points while the moneyline lists Texas +102 and Ohio State -122. Host teams ranked in the AP top-5 are 27-3 straight-up since 2021, but the Longhorns enter ranked No. 1 in most preseason polls, creating a true coin-flip atmosphere. Storylines Driving Search Interest • Quinn Ewers Homecoming: The Texas quarterback began his college career in Columbus before transferring back to Austin, adding extra intrigue to his first start in the Horseshoe. • Arch Manning Wait-and-See: Head coach Steve Sarkisian insists Ewers is the guy, yet every Texas series will be dissected for a possible Manning cameo. • Elite Defense vs Explosive Offense: Jim Knowles’ retooled Buckeye defense must slow a Longhorn attack that averaged 38.2 ppg in 2024. Key Players to Watch Texas: RB Cedric Baxter Jr., WR Johntay Cook II, EDGE Anthony Hill. Ohio State: QB Devin Brown, WRs Jeremiah Smith & Carnell Tate, DE Jack Sawyer. Injury Report Texas freshman WR Emmett Mosley V (ankle) will dress but is expected to be on a limited snap count. Ohio State lists starting LG Donovan Jackson as questionable (shoulder). Series History These powerhouses have met just three times since 2005, with Texas winning the 2009 Fiesta Bowl thriller and Ohio State taking the 2006 rematch in Austin. Saturday marks their first regular-season meeting in Columbus since that 25-22 classic two decades ago. Matchup Breakdown • Trenches: Texas returns all five offensive line starters; OSU counters with arguably the deepest D-line in the Big Ten. • Tempo: Sarkisian wants to reach 80 plays; Ryan Day prefers methodical efficiency to keep the Longhorn defense on the field. • Red Zone: Texas ranked 54th nationally in TD rate last season, while Ohio State excels at forcing field goals inside the 20. Expert Prediction Expect a one-score game decided late. If Texas converts red-zone trips into touchdowns, the Longhorns leave 2-0 all-time in the Horseshoe. If Ohio State’s pass rush rattles Ewers, the Buckeyes extend their 18-game home win streak. Final pick: Ohio State 27, Texas 24. Search-Friendly FAQs Q: What channel is Texas vs Ohio State on? A: FOX, noon ET Saturday. Q: How can I live stream Texas vs Ohio State free? A: Authenticate your cable/streaming credentials on the Fox Sports app or use a live-TV service offering a free trial. Q: Who is favored to win? A: Ohio State is a slight 1.5-point favorite at most sportsbooks. Q: What’s the over/under for Texas vs Ohio State? A: The consensus total is 47.5 points. SEO Keywords: Texas vs Ohio State live stream, Longhorns vs Buckeyes prediction, Texas vs Ohio State odds, Ohio Stadium kickoff time, Quinn Ewers return, Arch Manning, college football Week 1 top-25 matchup.