Arch Manning Seeks Redemption as Texas Hosts Ohio State

Texas quarterback Arch Manning will lead the fifth-ranked Longhorns against top-ranked Ohio State on Saturday, seeking redemption after a difficult debut against the Buckeyes last season. The high-profile matchup in Austin reunites two college football powerhouses following two consecutive victories by Ohio State over Texas in high-stakes contests.

Reflecting on a Difficult Debut

In his first start as Texas quarterback last year, Manning struggled against Ohio State’s defense during a 14-7 defeat in Columbus. Over the first three quarters, Manning completed 9 of 15 passes for 38 yards and threw one interception as Texas fell behind 14-0. Although he recovered late in the game by completing 8 of his next 15 pass attempts for 132 yards and a touchdown, the performance left a lasting impression on the young quarterback.

Speaking on Monday ahead of the rematch at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Manning acknowledged that reviewing footage of last year’s performance remained difficult. “Not a lot of good memories a year ago,” Manning said, adding that he was “hoping to have a good game this year.” He emphasized that rare opportunities to face an opponent again after a defeat provide a chance to demonstrate physical and mental growth.

Analyzing Texas’ Performance

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed criticism surrounding the team’s offensive output in last year’s meeting. Sarkisian noted that the Longhorns established a functional running game, producing 166 rushing yards on 37 attempts for an average of 4.5 yards per carry. However, he acknowledged that the passing attack failed to perform adequately during the first two and a half quarters, forcing the team into a throwing posture after falling behind on the scoreboard.

The upcoming contest marks the third major meeting between the two programs in recent seasons. Prior to last year’s regular-season loss, Texas suffered a 28-14 defeat to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl in January 2025. Manning noted that the benefit of a full offseason and a year of starting experience positions the Longhorns better for the home fixture.

Betting Lines and Broadcast Expectations

Despite Ohio State holding the number one ranking in the Associated Press poll, bookmaker DraftKings listed fifth-ranked Texas as a slight favorite ahead of Saturday’s game. According to ESPN Research, if the betting line holds until kickoff, it will mark only the 14th instance since 1978 where the top-ranked team in major college football enters a regular-season game as an underdog. A similar scenario occurred during last year’s matchup between the two teams.

The fixture will feature prominent award candidates, including Manning alongside Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, all of whom are considered leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy. ESPN Analytics awarded the game a pregame matchup quality score of 100.0, ranking it as the top contest of the current college football season. Sarkisian projected that national television viewership could reach 20 million viewers for the broadcast on ABC.

Background

American college football features university teams competing within divisions overseen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The top tier, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), determines its champion through the College Football Playoff (CFP). The Associated Press (AP) publishes weekly rankings of the top 25 teams based on a panel of sports journalists, with the number one spot denoting the top-ranked team in the nation. The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football.