The 2025 college football season will feature a lot of amazing games. From classic rivalries between college football powerhouses, like Michigan and Ohio State, and Georgia and Alabama, to out-of-conference games like Miami and Notre Dame and LSU and Clemson, it’s safe to say the schedule is loaded this season.
One of the best games, however, will be in Week 1 when the Texas Longhorns travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes, in a matchup that Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt predicts to be absolutely electric.
Elite Quarterbacks Set to Collide in Historic Week 1 Showdown
Texas and Ohio State faced off in the CFP semifinals last season in a matchup that gave fans one of the best games of the entire postseason. The Buckeyes defeated Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, 2025, as part of their championship run.
Heading into 2025, both Ohio State and Texas are projected to be national title contenders, and a Week 1 matchup between these programs will set the tone for the entire season. The Aug. 30 clash at Ohio Stadium will feature two teams likely ranked in the top three nationally.
On the “Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast,” analyst Joel Klatt broke down just how awesome it is to have a Week 1 matchup between two teams as good as Texas and Ohio State.
“We’ve never had, by the way, teams open the season as far as I can remember, in a one versus two matchup,” Klatt said. “That might be the case with these two teams. I think at worst you’re going to have a one v. three game.”
Not only will this game feature two of the best programs in the country, but there are some great storylines heading into it.
Manning Era Begins Against Championship Pedigree
The biggest storyline, Klatt says, is the Arch Manning era starting against a powerhouse like Ohio State. With Quinn Ewers declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft in January, Manning is set to take over as Texas’s starting quarterback after two years as the backup.
“Arch Manning here as your starter for Texas, and he’s going to get that start against the defending national champion on the road. That’s pretty awesome,” Klatt said.
Manning, the grandson of Saints legend Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning, made two starts in 2024 when Ewers was injured. He completed 63 of 95 career passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Buckeyes Bring New Coordinators and QB Competition
Ohio State also has a lot of its own storylines heading into the game. Klatt explains that the turnover with the coaching staff and the quarterback position only adds to the excitement for this game.
“We’ve also got the quarterback position at Ohio State, who it going to be? Is it going to be Julian Sayin? I know he’s incredibly talented, and I’ve really enjoyed watching what he brings to the table when I’ve been in Columbus and I’ve seen practice,” Klatt said. “You’re going to have a new offensive play caller in Brian Hartline. You’re going to have a new defensive play caller in Matt Patricia at Ohio State.”
Sayin, a redshirt freshman who transferred from Alabama in January 2024, is currently in a quarterback competition with Lincoln Kienholz. The former five-star recruit appeared in four games last season, completing 5 of 12 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown.
Brian Hartline was promoted to offensive coordinator in February 2025 after Chip Kelly left for the Las Vegas Raiders. Hartline previously held the coordinator title in 2023 but will be the primary play-caller for the first time in 2025.
Matt Patricia, the former New England Patriots defensive coordinator who won two Super Bowls, was hired as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator in February 2025, replacing Jim Knowles, who left for Penn State.
Championship Stakes and Future Implications
The battle between Manning and Sayin will likely set the tone for both of these quarterbacks, who are both former five-stars and both have a lot to prove about their games. This matchup represents the first time either has faced such elite competition as a starting quarterback.
The college football world is going to find out very early in the 2025 season where both Texas and Ohio State stand, and where both of these young quarterbacks are in their development. With both teams expected to compete for the College Football Playoff, this game could have significant implications for the entire season.
It’s one of the most anticipated battles of the year, and for college football fans, Week 1 can’t come soon enough. The game will air on FOX as part of their Big Noon Kickoff coverage from Columbus.
