Texas vs Ohio State is more than a rematch: A BBQ-fueled collision between college football power brokers
Ohio State, Texas set for Top-5 rematch in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — Ohio State and Texas are set to meet Saturday night at DKR Stadium, renewing a high-profile matchup that began last season in Columbus.
The 1,234-mile trip from Columbus to Austin carries major early-season implications. Ohio State enters as a Big Ten contender, while Texas will play at home as an SEC program with championship expectations. The game also puts Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s offseason standard in the spotlight: “semifinals aren’t good enough.”
Both programs have invested heavily in their 2026 rosters, with more than $40 million in spending part of the buildup to the game. Saturday offers one of the first chances to measure whether that investment has produced teams capable of competing for a national championship.
The matchup will be shaped by two prominent quarterbacks. Texas will look to Arch Manning to take another step in his development, while Ohio State will turn to Julian Sayin as it tries to establish its offense against a major opponent.
Texas will lean on a defense hoping to contain Sayin and an Ohio State attack featuring Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, will try to limit Manning and deal with a Texas offense that includes Cam Coleman. The game could be defined by whether the passing games break open the contest or whether both defenses keep it close.
More than 100,000 fans are expected at DKR Stadium, with millions more watching nationally. Ohio State supporters have already become a visible part of the pregame scene in Austin, including fans who traveled through Nashville on their way to Texas.
At a Southwest gate in Nashville, the mood was already competitive. A gate agent told passengers headed to Austin, “Look, I know you’re headed to Austin, but I just wanted to tell you all ‘Go Buckeyes’ and I hope the ride back is a bit longer.”
The cost of attending has also been substantial for some fans. One Ohio State supporter said his group spent about $22,000 on a house in Austin for the weekend and another $3,000 on tickets.
“We darn sure better be headed home with a win,” he said.
Austin’s pregame atmosphere has included music, restaurants and barbecue spots drawing fans from both sides, adding to the sense that this is one of the biggest early games of the 2026 season.
For Texas, the game is a chance to show that Manning can lead the Longhorns against an elite opponent and that Sarkisian’s team can meet the expectations created by its roster spending. For Ohio State, it is an opportunity to make a statement against an SEC opponent and strengthen its place in the national-title conversation.
With both teams viewed as capable of competing for a championship, Saturday night could do more than settle a rematch. It could shape how the season is viewed for two of college football’s most prominent programs.
