Ohio State vs. Texas live updates: No. 1 Buckeyes battle No. 4 Longhorns in primetime showdown

Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver in the country, and there's a very good chance he will be a top-five NFL Draft pick next spring.

However, in his two career games against Texas, Smith has been held in check. In those games, Smith has a combined seven receptions for 46 yards and zero touchdowns. If Ohio State is going to win on the road tonight, Smith will probably have to break through against the Longhorns secondary.

So, who will be lined up across from Smith most often this time around? Well, the most intriguing option would be sophomore Kade Phillips, a five-star recruit in the 2025 signing class who has enormous potential.

The last time Texas beat the top-ranked team in the country, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was No. 1 at the box office, and "Whatever You Like" by T.I. topped the billboard charts.

That was when the Longhorns took down No. 1 Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. Fullback Cody Johnson had one fewer rushing touchdown (three) than rushing yards (four), and Jordan Shipley went off for 112 receiving yards and a score.

Can Texas end its drought without a win over No. 1 tonight? The Horns are 5-12 all-time against top-ranked teams, but they are the slightest of favorites at home against the Buckeyes. If Texas does pull out a win, it may very well take Ohio State's spot atop the rankings.

This is the definition of a heavyweight fight, and there will be NFL talent all over the field. With that much firepower on both sides, there is very little daylight between Texas and Ohio State.

This week, David Cobb went through each position to see which team had the edge. It was especially close at quarterback, where each side has a legitimate Heisman Trophy hopeful in Julian Sayin and Arch Manning. Ultimately, the game may be decided in the trenches, and the battle between the Longhorns' front seven and the Buckeyes' offensive line will be critical.

Who has the edge in Ohio State vs. Texas? Position-by-position breakdown for monumental Week 2 showdown

David Cobb

Everybody is here for the Ohio State-Texas game. Even this Michigan fan I spotted outside Darrell K Royal Stadium two hours before kickoff.

Coming out of last year's loss to Ohio State in Columbus, the hype around Manning fizzled tremendously. He completed just over half of his passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That performance was part of a slow start to Manning's 2025 season before he picked up steam and elevated his game down the stretch.

Now Manning has to prove he can do it against a bona fide national championship contender like the Buckeyes. Some NFL scouts are still skeptical that Manning is an early first-round talent right now, but a big game on Saturday would quiet those critics.

What NFL scouts say about Texas QB Arch Manning ahead of Ohio State test: 'Good's really good, but ...'

Matt Zenitz

Arch Manning was thrown into the fire in Week 1 last season. He improved as the game progressed, prompting questions about whether he would have beaten the Buckeyes later in the season. Now he has more weapons, including receiver Cam Coleman, a better understanding of how to lead the offense, and the support of 100,000-plus fans at DKR. Texas covers and beats Ohio State. Texas -1.5 -- Brandon Marcello