Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
This week, we're joined by Danny Davis, who covers Texas for the Austin American-Statesman. Davis helped us break down the top storylines for the upcoming Cotton Bowl rematch between Ohio State and Texas in a star-studded season-opening matchup, as we discussed the narrative surrounding Arch Manning, former Ohio State defensive tackle Hero Kanu and more.
It feels like the first question has to be about Arch, right? There’s so much hype surrounding the guy, a lot of it he doesn’t seem to ask for. But nonetheless all eyes will be on him on Saturday. What do you expect from Arch Manning this season and how do you anticipate he’ll fare against Ohio State in his first meaningful collegiate start?
Danny Davis: Even though it was Mississippi State, I'd argue that Arch has a meaningful start under his belt. That still was Texas' SEC opener and Mississippi State isn't Who Cares Tech. But this is still the biggest start of his college career, and Ohio Stadium probably isn't among the 500 places you'd pick to make your first road start.
I am certainly not betting money on Arch to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025. He is a first-year starter, after all. But I do think he'll have a very good season. He's been in Steve Sarkisian's system for three years, he has the pedigree and skill set and he's had a few moments since he arrived on campus. Texas is in good hands. Like Ohio State with Julian Sayin, it won't be perfect and there will be some growing pains, but I think that the UT and OSU fans will be happy with the finished product.
Locally, there’s a lot of interest in Texas defensive tackle Hero Kanu, mainly because his transfer left a few fans confused because of the defensive tackle depth returning to OSU in 2025. Do you expect Kanu to be a regular contributor to the Longhorns this season and expanding on that, what do you expect from the Texas defensive tackle contingent this year?
Davis: I'd expect Hero to contribute. Texas wouldn't have gone after him if they didn't think he'd factor into their plans. Last year, Texas really leaned on future NFL draft picks Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton to lead the interior of their defensive line. This year, the Longhorns have about a half-dozen guys in the mix (five of which were brought in through the transfer portal). Hero is part of that group.
Going up against Colin Simmons and Anthony Hill Jr. for your first career start might seem intimidating for Julian Sayin. How big of game-wreckers are those two for Texas?
Davis: Anthony will be playing on Sundays next year, and Colin will join him the year after that. I don't think the AP voters overreached when they voted both players onto the first team of their preseason All-American team. They are both that good. But truth be told, this entire Texas defense is stocked with talent. Anthony and Colin might be the biggest names but they won't be the only ones on the Texas defense that will make plays. This is not a one-name defense.
It probably hasn’t even been a talking point in Austin, but in Columbus, there’s a lot of fan angst that this top-three matchup is a noon kickoff. Has anyone affiliated with Texas even casually mentioned they’re thrilled with the kickoff time considering the loud environment the Longhorns experienced the last time they came to The Shoe at night?
Davis: I don't think that anyone tied to Texas cares. I really don't. No disrespect to the environment at the 2005 game, but that was 20 years ago. The Michigan game last year was at 11 a.m. CT, and Texas fans were used to playing Oklahoma every year during that time slot until the SEC got involved. On the flip side, Texas has won night games at Alabama and Texas A&M the past two seasons, so I don't think they would have been intimidated by a night game in Columbus. Like Ohio State, Texas is used to the fans they visit giving them their A-game in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Y'all must have been really bored in Columbus this offseason! If I was an Ohio State fan, I'd be annoyed that I had less time to tailgate but I'd also be pretty excited that the football season is back, all eyes are on my stadium for one of the best Week 1 matchups in years and that I get to celebrate the national title that my team just won.
The Longhorns did the best job by far of any team of containing Jeremiah Smith last season, limiting him to one catch in the Cotton Bowl. Does Texas still expect its secondary to be a strength this season and do you expect it will use the same game plan against Smith that it did in the Cotton Bowl?
Davis: Texas has three starters back in the secondary, so that's good. Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba were selected within the first 64 picks of the NFL draft, so that's not great. We'll have to see about the secondary. There are experienced playmakers like Michael Taaffe and Malik Muhammad back there, but some of the younger guys will need to step up.
Will Texas use the same plan against Jeremiah Smith? I'm sure they will use some variations of that, but the Ohio State coaches make plenty of money too and I'd imagine that adjustments will be made by both teams.
There’s been lots of hype around Texas considering its No. 1 preseason ranking, but what position group are you the most concerned about heading into 2025?
Davis: That's easy. Technically, the offensive line has four new starters even though Cole Hutson has started before and Trevor Goosby got some important reps last season. Texas had a lot of turnover on its offense, but the biggest question mark will be on its offensive line.
What in your opinion are the biggest keys to Saturday’s matchup?
Davis: How the defenses get after these inexperienced quarterbacks is an obvious key. I'll be interested to see if Texas, which has had an offseason to think about that failed goal-to-go opportunity at the Cotton Bowl, can take some pressure off of Arch and establish the run behind a healthy CJ Baxter and returning 1,000-yard rusher Quintrevion Wisner. The same question can be asked about the Ohio State backfield, which obviously suffered some key losses in the NFL draft.
Finally, it’s a Cotton Bowl rematch from a year ago but it also seems like these two teams are so different than the two that squared off a year ago. How do you see the game playing out and can you give us a score prediction?
Davis: I have a longstanding rule to not pick scores because why would I want to be wrong when I'm right? But I'm picking Texas. Since a lot of these Texas players have won at Alabama, Michigan and Texas A&M, I don't think the environment on Saturday is going to be a huge factor. This game will be decided by the defenses, and I'll go with the Longhorns since they have continuity with their coordinator and three preseason All-Americans on that side of the football.
