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Steve Sarkisian & Ryan Day Reportedly Battling To Land Elite 5-Star Recruit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated May 18, 2025 4:44 PM ET

Perennial college football powers Texas and Ohio State are in the midst of a key recruiting race before meeting to open the 2025 season.

It was head coach Ryan Day's Buckeyes that topped the Longhorns and head coach Steve Sarkisian in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on the way to a national championship.

The two will face off again in Columbus on Aug. 30, one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire season. That game is on the back burner, though, as the recruiting battle around five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo heats up.

Ojo (6-foot-7, 274 pounds) plays for Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. He is rated as the nation's No. 3 offensive tackle, the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 4 overall recruit in his class (On3).

The Longhorns have long been the favorite to land Ojo as an in-state priority. However, according to On3's Chad Simmons, the Buckeyes have emerged as a contender.

"I think the school I've heard the most about, and he'll take an (official visit) there, too, is Ohio State," Simmons said via On3 on Saturday.

Texas has hosted Ojo multiple times over the past year, and he is scheduled to take an official visit next month. The Buckeyes will get Ojo on campus first on May 30.

Before Ojo is back in Austin on June 13, he will take an official visit to Michigan on June 6. Additionally, Oklahoma will host the highly coveted prospects on June 20.

Despite the reported interest from Ohio State and others, the relationship built with Sarkisian and Co. still has the Longhorns leading the charge, according to Simmons.

"You can't ever count the Buckeyes out in recruiting race, but look, like you said, he's from Texas," Simmons said. "He's been to Austin a lot. His family knows the staff. His entire family has been there with him on trips to Austin, Texas. For me, he's clearly Texas' to lose in this race. And right now, I don't think they lose him."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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