College football delivers one of its most entertaining and anticipated early-season showdowns on Saturday when the No. 1 Texas Longhorns visit the defending national champion No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Longhorns enter as slight underdogs at +1.5 despite their top ranking, setting up a fascinating clash between programs with championship aspirations.
Both teams feature new starting quarterbacks: Arch Manning for Texas and redshirt freshman Julian Sayin for Ohio State. While Manning is widely expected to be a major contender for multiple postseason awards and a high draft pick, former quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton believes Manning’s counterpart faces the heavier burden on Saturday.
Why Is Julian Sayin Under More Pressure Than Arch Manning?
Newton appeared on his “4th and 1” podcast and made his case clear: “I’m going with Julian Sayin. This is new for him. Very. This is new. You have (wide receiver) Jeremiah Smith. Don’t mess this up. We’re playing in the Shoe. Don’t mess this up.”
The former Auburn star and NFL veteran sees Manning’s situation differently, despite the massive expectations surrounding the highly touted quarterback.
“Now, Arch, on the other hand, even though he doesn’t have any meaningful starts, he knows what the roar sounds like,” Newton explained. “The thing about Arch is that pressure looks and feels completely different. His pressure is: How do you manage expectations? That’s his pressure. Heisman front-runner. All-American. Potential first-round pick, if not the first pick.”
Newton’s analysis hinges on the immediate consequences each quarterback faces. For Sayin, early struggles could quickly turn toxic in Columbus.
“I think Arch has way more slink in his rope than Julian,” Newton said. “Cause Julian three and out, three and out, three and out. That three-and-out is gonna turn into a G-E-T. Get out. Get out. Get out. That’s why the pressure is (on Sayin).”
How Have Both Programs Changed Since Their Last Meeting?
Texas and Ohio State faced off in the National Semifinals, and the Buckeyes dominated them 28-14. However, both teams look vastly different now that most of their big names have moved on to the next level.
Ryan Day has replaced Emeka Egbuka with Smith, while Sayin has stepped in for Will Howard. The coaching staff has also undergone significant changes. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly departed for the Las Vegas Raiders, with Brian Hartline taking over those duties. Meanwhile, Matt Patricia has arrived as the new defensive coordinator.
For Texas, Manning represents the most talked-about Heisman candidate entering the 2025 season. ESPN BET lists his odds at +600, placing him ahead of Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. These are remarkable odds for a player who has only started two games in his college career.
In an intriguing subplot, Manning will face Patricia, who helped craft some of Bill Belichick’s game plans that gave Manning’s uncle, Peyton, fits during their most competitive NFL matchups.
The stage is set for Saturday’s noon kickoff in Columbus, where both young quarterbacks will discover whether they can handle the brightest lights college football has to offer.
