While the hours tick away to the top-ranked Texas Longhorns taking on the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, August 30, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is still working to prepare his players.
Yet Sarkisian, who has built the Longhorns into a national title contender, has a couple of tricks up his sleeve. Is this Sarkisian trying to get a psychological edge on the defending national champions?
What Is Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian Doing Now?
Of course, all eyes will be on Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning in the opener. He’s been getting so much attention in the lead-up to taking on Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day. Sarkisian, though, is bringing a few more players to Columbus, Ohio.
Football reporter Anwar Robinson posted on X that Sarkisian will bring the entire freshman team to the big showdown. The Texas coach reportedly wants the new players to experience a hostile environment in a high-stakes matchup like this.
Steve Sarkisian says all Texas freshmen are making the trip to Ohio State. Some will play, others will be in limited roles, but he wants all of them exposed to the environment. He believes every freshman will grow into a key contributor
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) August 28, 2025
This is a rematch from last season’s College Football Playoff Semifinal, which Ohio State won 28-14. Instead of QB Will Howard, though, Ohio State will also be trotting out a new passer.
The Buckeyes are turning to Julian Sayin now that Howard has moved on. Sayin transferred to Ohio State last season, yet spent it on the bench behind Howard. Now, Day looks for Sayin to connect with wide receiver and Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Smith.
Texas’s No. 1 ranking marks the fifth-straight season for an SEC team to lead the Associated Press poll ahead of a season opener. But Ohio State has won 25 straight season openers and takes that streak into its first home game of the season.
Where Does Texas Rank in SEC Power Rankings?
Before the Longhorns’ season officially starts, PFSN’s Oliver Hodgkinson took a long, hard look and offered up the SEC Power Rankings entering the season. It’s no surprise that Texas was in the No. 1 spot.
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“All eyes are on Arch Manning, but you might be looking in the wrong direction if you want to tell the true story of what the 2025 Texas Longhorns could be,” Hodgkinson wrote.
“The 2024 defense was comfortably one of the best units in the country, ranking first in the SEC and second nationally in PFSN College Defense+ (92.18, A-), and a good chunk of the pivotal parts of that juggernaut return this fall.”
Sarkisian can bring that entire freshman team along to experience big-time college football in front of a rabid Ohio State fan base. The tests, though, start for the Longhorns and Buckeyes in a big way on Saturday.
