On a day that began with Buckeye fans celebrating Lee Corso as he made his last headgear pick just like his first, and the unveiling of the program's 2024 national championship banner, it ended with Ohio State's 2025 defense dominating No. 1 Texas as the Buckeyes earned a hard-fought 14-7 win in sun-splashed Ohio Stadium.
Despite tallying a modest 203 total yards of offense thanks to conservative game plan especially as it became clear the Silver Bullets were in charge, the Buckeyes built a 14-0 lead with the defense keeping Arch Manning and the Longhorns out of the end zone until just 3:28 left in regulation.
Manning's late touchdown throw, followed by a quick 3-and-out from the OSU offense gave the 'Horns a last gasp possession and they even reached midfield at the two minute warning but a Caleb Downs stop on a 4th-and-5 play was all she wrote as the Ohio State offense then ran out the clock.
The win gives No. 3 Ohio State an early resume booster and dating back to last season's CFP run, the program now boasts five straight victories with those coming against No. 1 Texas, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 5 Texas, No. 1 Oregon, and No. 9 Tennessee. Not bad.
Back to yesterday, props to the fans for providing an electric atmosphere that was truly a homefield advantage as Texas committed three false starts and looked out of sorts pre-snap multiple times.
With that, let's get to Five Things from a rousing start to the 2025 season.
SAYIN GETS IT DONE IN FIRST START
Heading into yesterday's showdown, much was made about OSU QB1 Julian Sayin playing just 27 snaps and attempting only 12 passes a season ago, and how his counterpart, Arch Manning, while still green himself, had at least logged two starts and played in 10 games last season (90 pass attempts, 25 rushes).
It was Sayin, however, who oozed poise while Manning, who obviously had to deal with the raucous road crowd, looked out of sorts for much of the afternoon.
Sayin's stat line read 13-of-20 (65%) for a modest 126 yards but the conservative game plan, fueled by the reality Ohio State's defense was controlling the game, likely played a part in his final numbers and let's not forget Texas has an incredible defense.
It didn't help that Jeremiah Smith had a pair of early drops and Max Klare dropped what should've been a fourth down chain mover but Sayin certainly benefitted from a acrobatic 40-yard touchdown grab of an under-thrown deep ball by Carnell Tate in the fourth quarter.
Carnell Tate pic.twitter.com/UDqJaV2Ajf
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 30, 2025
Sayin didn't take a sack and most importantly he didn't turn the ball over.
Overall, to be thrown into the fire and emerge a winner in his first start against an elite defense, there's reason to believe the experience gained yesterday will be the catalyst for a season-long upward trajectory from Sayin and the offense.
ARVELL REESE STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Mike linebacker Arvell Reese showed plenty of flashes during the 307 snaps he logged last season but after strong spring and fall camps this year, the hype was building and yesterday the the athletic freak took center stage.
Reese roamed sideline to sideline with bad intentions on the way to nine stops and a sack and made his presence felt right from the jump.
Four of his first five tackles came on third downs - all stopping Longhorns short of the sticks - and the fifth came on 4th-and-2 at the OSU 43 as he stoned CJ Baxter for a 1-yard gain resulting in a turnover on downs on Texas' opening possession.
STOPPED
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
The @OhioStateFB defense shuts down Texas on the opening drive pic.twitter.com/7rLV28R1dS
The young man is freaky fast and plays with a violence that already has NFL scouts taking notice. Eight of his nine tackles on the afternoon held Longhorns to five yards or less.
It's going to be a treat watching him punish opponents all season long.
DON'T RUSH TO JUDGMENT
So yeah, Ohio State's rushing attack was pretty shaky yesterday. In a vacuum, 77 rushing yards on 2.7 yards per carry is cause for concern. That concern potentially becomes larger when you consider 26% of OSU's rushing attempts (9) went for no gain or a loss, only 1-of-4 rushing attempts with two or less yards to go for a first down actually moved the chains, and Ohio State's longest run of the day was.. eight yards. The run game also registered just 10 yards on five third down carries, resulting in zero first downs.
But, we have to consider Texas had a strong run defense last year and projects to have one this season too. Last year the Longhorns allowed just 3.24 yards a pop and in the CFP semifinal, the Buckeyes averaged 3.4 yards per carry.
I'm convincing myself the conservative playcalling was also a factor as Steve Sarkisian knew Ryan Day and Brian Hartline were playing it close to the vest.
I admit, I incorrectly figured James Peoples would start, earn the most carries and look the most dangerous but he did very little, carrying it 10 times for 20 yards. West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson instead got the start and was easily the more effective of the two, logging 19 carries for 67 yards (3.4 ypc). His 1-yard plunge capped an 8-minute drive giving Ohio State a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
The next few weeks should give the rushing attack a chance to work out the kinks before heading to Washington. I'll reserve concern for now but I think it's fair to at least consider the run game a question mark for the moment.
SECONDARY STRENGTH
A lot went right for Ohio State's defense yesterday and nothing impressed me more than the secondary.
New defensive coordinator Matt Patricia had Manning seeing ghosts with all the pre-snap disguise and movement and the players also stepped up across the board.
Cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. recorded a huge interception late in the third quarter with Ohio State nursing a 7-0 lead after giving Texas the ball back at midfield. Mathews made a great read and cut in front of intended receiver Ryan Wingo to snag the late Manning throw. On the next Texas possession, Mathews' tight coverage caused a deflection off Manning's intended receiver and the ball landed in Sonny Styles' arms for what was initially ruled an interception but overturned by replay. The drive ended in a turnover on downs.
Jermaine Mathews Jr., you beautiful, beautiful manpic.twitter.com/bNg2JolDck
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 30, 2025
Safety Caleb Downs did Caleb Downs things, posting five stops - a few of them huge. On a 3rd-and-8 snap, he stopped CJ Baxter for a 6-yard reception leading to a punt, he stuffed Baxter for a 2-yard gain on 3rd-and-Goal from the OSU 3 leading to a turnover on downs on the next play, and his 4th-and-5 tackle of tight end Jack Endries after a 3-yard catch effectively ended the game.
Safety Jaylen McClain introduced himself to the faithful with eight tackles including an assist on Downs' stop during Ohio State's goal line stand.
Finally, cornerback Davison Igbinosun posted 10 tackles (and no penalties) in a typical physical performance and his 4th-and-3 pass breakup on a Manning pass into the end zone intended for Parker Livingstone preserved Ohio State's 14-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
With the secondary balling out, Manning completed just 57% of this throws for 170 yards with a touchdown and a pick.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
I discussed in the Mic Check earlier this week that in a matchup game like this, with a lot of unproven guys in elevated roles, Day was preaching the importance of playing clean to his team - minimizing penalties and taking care of the football. He knew Ohio State was lucky to overcome nine penalties - four of which killed three straight first half possessions - and a turnover in the CFP semifinal win over Texas.
Yesterday, Day's squad did an outstanding job playing clean with just two accepted penalties for 15 total yards and zero turnovers.
An illegal motion penalty early in the fourth quarter with OSU up 7-0 was rendered meaningless two plays later when Sayin found Carnell Tate for a 40-yard touchdown giving the Buckeyes a 14-0 cushion with 13:08 left in regulation.
The second accepted penalty did come with consequences as a Luke Montgomery holding flag put OSU in a 1st-and-20 hole on its possession after Tate's touchdown. The Buckeyes punted four plays later.
A near-third accepted penalty in the form of a holding call on Austin Siereveld in the end zone would've resulted in a safety if not for his defender, Liona Lefau, also getting flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct via some hands to the face action. The offsetting penalties resulted in no play.
Speaking of hands to the face and Texas mistakes, elite Longhorns pass rusher Colin Simmons earned a flag for getting his hands up in right tackle Phil Daniels' face on a 3rd-and-4 incomplete pass to extend a drive. Ohio State scored eight plays later to take a 7-0 lead.
And of course, Manning made a huge mistake in the form of his interception late in the third quarter after the Longhorns were set up with a drive starting near midfield.
Ohio State's ability to play clean while Texas did not went a long way in sending the Buckeyes to the winner's circle.
