For the second straight year, Ohio State and Texas will stage one of the most anticipated college football games of the season early on when the Buckeyes travel to Austin on Sept. 12 in Week 2. Last year, Ohio State was able to dictate the game with its defense and won a huge matchup that boosted the Buckeyes’ résumé and likely kept Texas out of the College Football Playoff.
The same could be true in 2026, according to Fox College Football’s Joel Klatt. While appearing on his own podcast, Klatt took some time to talk about the massive collision between what should be two top-five teams when the two kick things off. He believes the winner will be in good shape, but that the loser could have an uphill climb to get into the CFP.
“The loser of this game is behind the eight-ball. Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian know exactly how important that game was to their teams and their programs a year ago,” Klatt said. “Look at what Ohio State was able to do. They had eight new starters on defense. They generated a ton of confidence — a ton of confidence in their brand new quarterback, Julian Sayin, and their new defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia. Based on what they were able to do and how they controlled the game against Texas at home early last year.
Klatt then went on to talk about this year and the difference in teams, but also how difficult the schedules are after the titanic collision at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
“You’re going to have experienced guys — this is not Arch (Manning) in his first real experience as a starter,” continued Klatt. “This is not Julian Sayin, and his first time as a real starter. Now you’ve got incumbent quarterbacks. There’s loads of expectations. These two teams are going to start in the top five; there’s no doubt. Look at these schedules, they have remaining. Ohio State — remaining big games on the schedule after traveling to Texas. They’ve got to go on the road to Iowa, Indiana, and USC in their schedule next year, and they’ve got home games against Oregon and Michigan. That’s not easy. Same can be said for Texas. Check this out — Texas’ remaining big games, they’ve got road games at Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, and Texas A&M — that one to finish out the year. They’ve got home games against Florida and Ole Miss. Not going to be easy there, and obviously the big one, the neutral in Red River against Oklahoma. So, a loss in this game, each of these teams are going to be fighting uphill, and you’re talking about major brands that do not expect to miss the playoffs.”
We’ve been saying much the same if you’ve followed us here on Buckeyes Wire. In fact, Ohio State hasn’t lost more than two regular-season games since the 2011 season, and if they drop the game at Texas, well — it’s not like the talent isn’t there to go on a run — but with that schedule, the team could be potentially better than last year and miss out on some really big goals if a bounce or break doesn’t go the Buckeyes way.
Either way, Klatt is right. There is a lot on the line even so early in the season because of what’s ahead for both of these teams, even in a world of a 12-team College Football Playoff.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Joel Klatt believes Ohio State vs. Texas loser is ‘behind the 8-ball’
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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By Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
