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Ohio State’s defense dominated the nation’s top-ranked team in its season opener.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3 Ohio State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| #1 TEXAS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| AUG. 30, 2025 • Ohio STADIUM • COLUMBUS, OHIO | |||||
Despite replacing eight NFL draft picks on their defense from last season, the Buckeyes held Texas to just one score. The defending national champions made four fourth-down stops against their No. 1-ranked visitors, and started the 2025 season with a 14-7 victory as a result.
Ohio State’s offense never quite found its groove against the Longhorns, but scored enough to win the game, with Carnell Tate making the highlight-reel play of the game by hauling in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin.
| Qtr | Time | Team | Result | Play Details | OSU | TEXAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 8:57 | OSU | TD | 2-Yard Run, CJ DOnaldson | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | 13:08 | OSU | TD | 40-Yard Pass, JULIAN SAYIN TO CARNELL TATE | 14 | 0 |
| 4 | 3:28 | TEX | TD | 32-YARD PASS, ARCH MANNING TO PARKER LIVINGSTONE | 14 | 7 |
Key Moments
Q1, 10:32: Arvell Reese stuffs Texas on 4th-and-2
The Buckeyes’ defense set the tone early by stuffing Texas on 4th-and-2 at the 42-yard line on its opening series of the season. Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese stuffed Texas running back CJ Baxter short of the line-to-gain to force the turnover on downs. The Buckeyes were unable to take advantage, however, as Ohio State turned the ball over on downs on its subsequent drive due to a 4th-and-1 drop by Max Klare.
STOPPED
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
The @OhioStateFB defense shuts down Texas on the opening drive pic.twitter.com/7rLV28R1dS
Q2, 8:57: CJ Donaldson runs for TD on 4th-and-goal
Facing 4th-and-goal at the 2-yard line on its third possession of the game, Ohio State opted to go for it. With four tight ends in the game, including freshman Nate Roberts lined up at fullback for his first snap as a Buckeye, CJ Donaldson ran behind Roberts for the first touchdown of the season, which would end up being the only points of the first half.
THE BUCKEYES STRIKE FIRST AND SCORE THEIR FIRST TD OF THE SEASON @ohiostatefb pic.twitter.com/Mlb8CiRyt7
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
Q3, 6:40: Buckeyes stuff Texas on 4th-and-goal
For the second game in a row against Texas, Ohio State’s defense came up with a crucial 4th-and-goal stop. While Jack Sawyer wasn’t there to force a fumble and return the ball for a touchdown this time, the Buckeyes prevented the Longhorns from scoring a game-tying touchdown on their opening drive of the second half by stuffing Arch Manning short of the end zone on a run from the 1-yard line.
THE BUCKEYES STOP TEXAS ON 4TH & GOAL @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/IaBbb4cut7
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
Q3, 3:01: Mathews picks off Manning
Making Chase Brown’s pregame prediction come true, Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. picked off a deep shot by Manning for the game’s first takeaway, preserving a 7-0 lead for the Buckeyes.
ARCH MANNING IS PICKED OFF
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
The @ohiostatefb defense comes up with another massive play pic.twitter.com/5yaBXYZrQm
Q4, 13:08: Tate hauls in 40-yard touchdown for two-score lead
After three quarters of ho-hum offense from the Buckeyes, Ohio State finally hit a big play on offense as Carnell Tate made a spectacular catch over coverage to haul in a deep ball from Julian Sayin for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the Buckeyes a two-score lead.
CARNELL TATE 40 YARD TD
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
The @OhioStateFB Buckeyes make it a two-score game pic.twitter.com/QwOtTZExl6
Q4, 7:56: Another fourth-down stop
The Buckeye defense came up with its third fourth-down stop of the game when Davison Igbinosun broke up a Manning pass intended for Parker Livingstone in the end zone on 4th-and-3 from the 9-yard line.
STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN AGAIN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
THE @OHIOSTATEFB DEFENSE IS UNREAL TODAY pic.twitter.com/2DAgdyzSvQ
Q4, 3:28: Manning finds Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown
With less than four minutes to play in the game, Texas finally scored for the first time as Arch Manning connected with Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown, cutting Ohio State’s lead to one score.
What a throw What a catch @TexasFootball is on the board!#FOXFieldPass pic.twitter.com/nrxouGtaXy
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
Q4, 1:27: Hicks leads fourth-down stop
Ohio State’s defense made its fourth fourth-down stop to seal victory as C.J. Hicks pressured Manning to force a pass short of the sticks to Jack Endries on 4th-and-5, allowing Caleb Downs to make a game-clinching tackle two yards short of the line-to-gain.
THE BUCKEYE DEFENSE SHUTS DOWN TEXAS ON 4TH DOWN... AGAIN @ohioStatefb pic.twitter.com/W9ziVhZYc5
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
What’s Next
Ohio State hosts Grambling State in its second of three non-conference games next Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
Ohio State Stat Leaders
Passing
Julian Sayin: 13-of-20, 126 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
CJ Donaldson: 19 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Carnell Tate: 2 catches, 49 yards, 1 TD
Jeremiah Smith: 6 catches, 43 yards
Defense
Davison Igbinosun: 10 tackles, 1 PBU
Arvell Reese: 9 tackles, 1 sack
Jaylen McClain: 8 tackles
Kayden McDonald: 8 tackles
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU
Team Stats
| OHIO STATE | TEXAS | |
|---|---|---|
| 203 | TOTAL YARDS | 336 |
| 77 | RUSHING YARDS | 166 |
| 34 | RUSHING ATTEMPTS | 37 |
| 2.3 | AVERAGE PER RUSH | 4.5 |
| 1 | RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS | 0 |
| 126 | PASSING YARDS | 170 |
| 13-20 | COMPLETIONS–ATTEMPTS | 17-30 |
| 6.3 | YARDS PER COMPLETION | 5.7 |
| 1 | PASSING TOUCHDOWNS | 1 |
| 11 | 1st DOWNS | 16 |
| 54 | TOTAL PLAYS | 67 |
| 3.8 | YARDS PER PLAY | 5 |
| 3-12 | 3RD DOWNS | 5-14 |
| 2-15 | PENALTIES | 6-50 |
| 32:05 | POSSESSION | 27:55 |
| 0 | TURNOVERS | 1 |
Game Notes
- Lee Corso made his final headgear pick on College GameDay before the game and picked Ohio State to beat Texas.
- Ohio State unveiled its 2024 national championship banner before the game.
- Archie Griffin rang the Victory Bell before the game as Ohio State’s first-ever pregame Victory Bell ringer.
- 33 representatives from 22 NFL teams were at Ohio Stadium for the game.
- Nine Ohio State players, all backups, were unavailable due to injuries: CB Brenten "Inky" Jones, TE Max LeBlanc, DT Jason Moore, QB Mason Maggs, RB Anthony "Turbo" Rogers, DT Maxwell Roy, S Deshawn Stewart, DT Ahmed Tounkara and WR Preston Wolfe.
- Ohio State’s starters on defense: DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DE Caden Curry, DT Eddrick Houston, DT Kayden McDonald, LB Sonny Styles, LB Arvell Reese, CB Davison Igbinosun, CB Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB Lorenzo Styles Jr., S Caleb Downs, S Jaylen McClain
- Ohio State’s starters on offense: QB Julian Sayin, RB CJ Donaldson, WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Carnell Tate, WR Brandon Inniss, TE Max Klare, LT Austin Siereveld, LG Luke Montgomery, C Carson Hinzman, RG Tegra Tshabola, RT Phillip Daniels
- Ethan Onianwa rotated into the game at right guard.
- Jeremiah Smith had two drops in the first quarter after dropping just one pass in the entire 2024 season.
- Ohio State used Smith as a punt returner for the first time in his career.
- Freshman TE Nate Roberts and CB Devin Sanchez made their Ohio State debuts.
- Kenyatta Jackson Jr. left the game with an injury in the third quarter and did not return.
- The game was Ohio State’s first time playing a No. 1-ranked opponent in a season opener – and therefore, its first win over a top-ranked opponent in a season opener.
- 107,524 people attended the game.
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