Texas hosts Ohio State in highly anticipated Week 2 showdown
No. 4 Texas faces No. 1 Ohio State in Austin, with both teams featuring new coordinators and offensive additions as the college football season moves into its second week.
Texas will host No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night in what is the marquee matchup of Week 2. The Longhorns, now led by offensive additions Cam Coleman and Hollywood Smothers and a defensive staff change that includes coordinator Will Muschamp, look to improve on a narrow loss in the previous season's opener. Ohio State, meanwhile, has installed offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who will direct plays for quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith.
The game comes at Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium, where a non-conference defeat could add pressure to Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning as the Longhorns begin a challenging SEC schedule. Analysts note that the contest offers a chance to gauge how the new personnel on both sides will perform against top competition.
Other notable Week 2 matchups include No. 11 Oklahoma at Michigan, where Oklahoma quarterback Bryce Underwood faces a defense led by Brent Venables, and No. 12 Alabama traveling to Kentucky. The Iowa-Iowa State rivalry and early games involving Missouri, Louisville and Virginia also round out Friday night’s slate.
Betting analysts have offered various picks for the weekend. One forecaster recommends Texas to cover a -1.5 spread against Ohio State, citing the Longhorns’ home-field advantage and expanded offensive arsenal. Another predicts Oklahoma to win by more than five points over Michigan, emphasizing the Sooners’ potential improvement after Week 1.
The weekend’s schedule provides multiple opportunities for NFL scouts to evaluate high-profile quarterbacks, including Oregon’s Dante Moore, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, and Arizona State’s Cutter Boley, who posted six passing touchdowns in a Week 1 victory.