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Arch Manning (16) is seen running for the first down as he gets chased by Caleb Downs (2) and Jordan Hancock (7) in the 2025 CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas.
Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs against Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jordan Hancock (7) and safety Caleb Downs (2) during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

How to watch Texas vs. Ohio State Football: Kickoff time, TV channel & live stream for today

By Russell Raunam  |  Last updated Aug 29, 2025 4:47 AM ET
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The most anticipated matchup of the year happens to fall in week one of the season! A rematch from last year's CFP Semifinal features two heavyweights. Top-ranked Texas heads to Columbus, Ohio, taking on #3 Ohio State. With superstars galore, this game could be a clash of the titans from start to finish. 

How to watch Texas vs. Ohio State game today

  • Matchup: Texas vs. Ohio State
  • Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
  • Time: 11:00 a.m. Central Time (CT) / 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
  • TV Channels: FOX
  • Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV Streaming App
  • Location: Columbus, Ohio
  • Stadium: Ohio Stadium


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Predictions, odds, and spread for Texas vs. Ohio State

 Key Line    Texas Longhorns     Ohio State Buckeyes  
Point Spread +1.5 -1.5
Moneyline +102 -122

Key players you need to watch on the Texas Longhorns

  • Anthony Hill Jr. – Defense – The team’s linebacker standout and preseason First-team All-American, Hill Jr. is expected to anchor a dominant defensive unit under new head coach Steve Sarkisian 
  • Arch Manning - Offense – Taking over as the starting quarterback this season, the redshirt sophomore brings elite talent and immense expectations to the Longhorns’ offense.
  • Colin Simmons – Defense – The 2024 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year is a Freshman All-American and a key edge rusher expected to complement Hill Jr. and boost Texas’s pass-rush potency.

Key players you need to watch on the Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Jeremiah Smith – Offense – In 2024, Smith had an explosive freshman year with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the Big Ten in receiving and making a major impact in the College Football Playoff.
  • Carnell Tate – Offense – Tate caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 and enters 2025 as Ohio State's No. 2 wide receiver, known for his smooth route running and reliability.
  • Caleb Downs – Defense – Downs was a unanimous All-American with 82 tackles and two interceptions in 2024, serving as one of the nation's top safeties and a linchpin of Ohio State's defense.

Key stats for Texas Longhorns

TEAM PPG YDS/G PASS YDS/G RUSH YDS/G PAPG YAPG TO GAINED SACKS FG% PUNTS/G FGM/G
Texas Longhorns 33.0 437.5 278.8 158.8 15.3 283.4 31 2.9 64.0 3.1 1.0

Key stats for Ohio State Buckeyes

TEAM PPG YDS/G PASS YDS/G RUSH YDS/G PAPG YAPG TO GAINED SACKS FG% PUNTS/G FGM/G
Ohio State 35.7 429.4 263.0 166.4 12.9 254.6 19 3.3 76.5% 3.1 0.8

Who's winning the Texas vs. Ohio State game?

This is the first time in modern college football history that the top-ranked team is the underdog headed into its season opener. That makes this game a bit of a head-scratcher to pick. Heisman hopefuls Jeremiah Smith and Arch Manning will be on full display, but that is not the matchup that intrigues me the most.  Ohio State's Julian Sayin is making his first-ever college start, and the UT front seven is arguably the best in the country. I like UT to win this game by double digits despite the talent that Ohio State brings to the table. 

Russell is a 22-year-old from Dallas, Texas, who recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Sports Journalism. He can talk about sports all day long and is also passionate about comedy and entertainment.