Will the Texas Defense Headline the Ohio State-Texas Game?

 No. 1 Texas is set to face off against No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday morning when the game kicks off in The Shoe. It will be a rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinal from last year, but it will not be the same game.

Both teams have lost key pieces and familiar faces, more specifically, the quarterbacks. However, the quarterback position isn’t the only area that fans can expect to see new faces in.

The Longhorns may have taken the more significant hit overall due to the NFL Draft, but Ohio State also saw departures from all over the field. So, given the overall roster situations, and this isn’t to say that either team’s offense will be bad, but this top-3 matchup on Saturday could likely be a defensive showcase as both teams attempt to find an offensive identity.

As the Buckeyes prepare to kick the season off at home, their offense will now be led by redshirt-freshman Julian Sayin, a transfer from Alabama who was ranked as the No. 2 QB in the class of 2024. Although he is entering his second year in college football, having seen relatively no playing time, it doesn’t mean that Texas fans should write him off. Steve Sarkisian certainly isn’t.

“We’ve got a lot of familiarity with him. Obviously a California kid. Very good player, elite passer, very good arm talent, very quick release, really accurate guy, and obviously he’s got great weapons around him,” Sarkisian said. He’s the type of guy that can utilize those weapons in a good system. Poses a heck of a challenge.”

Defensive end Colins Simmons has already set his sights on the new Ohio State QB as he hopes to improve on an already successful freshman year, reposting a picture of the Buckeyes’ quarterback. Texas QB Arch Manning has also spoken about how the team feels as though they do not have the target on their backs, but instead have “a red dot on everyone else’s.”

Not only will the Texas defense have an inexperienced quarterback to go after, but aside from star wide receiver Jermiah Smith, who the Longhorns held to one reception for three yards last time, every other wide receiver will be a first-year starter.

The Texas defense has all the opportunity it needs to show up and show out, setting a tone for the season.

Perhaps the two most notable names on the Texas defense in 2025 will be EDGE Colin Simmons and LB Anthony Hill Jr. Both are superior forces in Texas’s ability to stop the run and create extreme pressure for the opposing QB.

The rest of the defensive line will be headlined by senior EDGE Ethan Burke, senior DT Purdue transfer Cole Brevard, and sophomore DT Syracuse transfer Maraad Watson, who saw decent playing time as a freshman last year.

Along with Hill at the linebacker position, the Longhorns are returning significant role players in junior Liona Lefau and senior Trey Moore, whose role is expected to increase after a somewhat disappointing season last year, after transferring from UTSA.

The secondary is led by senior free safety and former walk-on Michael Taaffe, who recorded 40 solo tackles and two interceptions last season. Alongside Taaffe will be redshirt-sophomore safety Derek Williams, who will be a first-year starter.

The cornerbacks will be led by senior Jaylon Guilbeau, junior Malik Muhammed, and junior Jelani McDonald, who all combined for 78 solo tackles and an interception last season.

The Longhorns also have plenty of depth, including many talented true freshmen who were part of the No. 1-ranked 2024 Texas recruiting class, so the Texas defense is in good hands.

Only time will tell just how successful the defense and the team as a whole will be, but given the experience of the Texas defense and the inexperience on the Ohio State offense, this could easily be a game where the Longhorns’ defense steals the show. It could also just be a defense game overall, marked by both teams’ deep and talented depth.

Fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out what’ll happen, as the game kicks off in just under two days. The game will kick off at 11 AM CT and be televised on FOX. Beforehand, fans can tune into College Gameday when it starts at 8 AM CT on ESPN, and continue watching till it ends just before the Texas-Ohio State kickoff to see Lee Corso make his last iconic headgear pick.