OHIO STATE vs TEXAS PREVIEW – September 12th 2026
No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 4 Texas on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC) at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Both teams opened with blowouts—Ohio State 56-3 over Ball State and Texas 59-7 over Texas State—and ASA power rankings list the Buckeyes No. 1 and the Longhorns No. 2, making this the best game of the year. It is also the third meeting between the programs in 21 months.
Ohio State leads the series 3-2 and they’ve met each of the last 2 seasons with OSU winning both. Those two meetings were both great, tightly contested affairs. Last season the Buckeyes were a 1.5-point home favorite and won 14-7 in Columbus. Texas actually outgained Ohio State 336 yards to 203 and averaged 5.0 yards per play to Ohio State’s 3.7, but the Longhorns were stopped on downs twice inside the Ohio State 10-yard line. The year before that, in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Ohio State was a 5.5-point favorite and won 28-14. That final score was also a bit misleading as the Buckeyes led 21-14 when Texas was driving for the tying score, only for Ohio State to return a fumble 83 yards and take a two-score lead with two minutes left.
Betting Picture
Opening numbers listed Texas as a 2- to 2.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5–48. The line has drifted toward the visitors. Current consensus is Texas -1.5 and a total of 49.5, with money lines around Texas -118/-122 and Ohio State +100/+104. This is Ohio State’s first time as an underdog in three years. Since 2004 the Buckeyes have been dogs 29 times and are 20-9 against the spread; they have won more than half of those games outright (15-14 SU). Dating to 1980 they are 48-37 ATS as an underdog. Texas has been a small home favorite of 1 to 3 points 12 times since 1980 and is just 5-8-1 ATS and 7-7 straight-up in those spots. At home the Longhorns have won 20 of their last 21 games outright, the lone loss coming against Georgia.
Injury Report
Texas running back Derrek Cooper is out after injuring his ankle/foot against Texas State and will remain in a walking boot “for the foreseeable future,” according to Steve Sarkisian. He was the clear No. 3 back. Wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon is questionable with an illness. Left tackle Trevor Goosby (knee) is expected to be available after practicing. Offensive lineman Kaden Scherer (knee) is out. Safety Yaheim Riley did not dress for the opener. Ohio State has not issued a detailed non-conference injury report. Wide receiver Kyle Parker is listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury. The Buckeyes otherwise appear relatively healthy coming out of their Week 1 blowout.
What To Watch
Arch Manning is 9-0 in home starts with 40 touchdown passes at home since 2024 and now has more weapons around him, including Cam Coleman. Julian Sayin is 5-0 in road starts. Jeremiah Smith remains Ohio State’s most dangerous skill player. Turnovers have decided recent outcomes for both teams. Texas is 11-0 under Manning when it wins the turnover battle and 0-3 when it does not; Ohio State has lost every game since 2023 in which it was even or behind in turnover margin. Saturday’s heat in Austin (near 100 degrees) and a sold-out DKR crowd add another layer. Ohio State’s long-term record as an underdog and its recent success in these exact matchups give the Buckeyes a historical edge that the current 1.5-point line only partially reflects. Texas counters with home-field advantage and the chance to avenge two close, painful losses. Another physical, one-score game would surprise no one.
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BETTING NEWS AND NOTES
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