As the college football landscape continues to evolve, one matchup stands out as a must-watch in the upcoming season: Texas vs. Ohio State in 2025. The Longhorns will be led by quarterback Arch Manning, who has been thrust into the spotlight after Quinn Ewers’ departure to the NFL.
Arch Manning’s Rise
- Ewers was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys this year, leaving Manning as the team’s starter.
- Manning has shown promise in limited action throughout his career but faces significant pressure due to his family legacy:
- His uncles, Peyton and Eli, are Super Bowl winners.
- His father, Archie, was an All-American passer who played professionally until age 35.
- Manning is projected to be a top pick in next year’s or ’27 NFL Drafts, with some predicting he could even be selected first overall if he enters early.
- It remains to be seen how well he will perform under pressure and whether he can live up to expectations.
Ohio State’s Challenges
Ohio State also faces significant challenges heading into their matchup against Texas:
- The Buckeyes lost several key players this offseason, including:
- Offensive and defensive coordinators.
- Two new bookend defensive ends.
- Despite these losses, Ohio State remains strong due to its history of producing successful teams and recent successes, such as winning back-to-back national championships.
- The Big Ten Conference has produced the last two national champions and currently holds three of the top five spots in the latest Associated Press poll after spring practice concluded earlier this month.
Texas’ Outlook
- Texas finished second behind Georgia in both polls despite playing without Ewers for much of last season due to injury.
- They have high hopes for their upcoming season with Manning at quarterback but face stiff competition from Ohio State.
- The Buckeyes have won six straight meetings against Texas since losing consecutive games from 2009-10.
Notable Matchups in September
In other matchups between ranked teams on September:
- No. 1 USC plays at No. 4 Oregon.
- No. 2 Alabama hosts No. 8 South Carolina.
- No. 3 Georgia visits Duke.
- Oklahoma plays at then-No. 6 Notre Dame.
- Then-No. 7 Penn State at Iowa.
- Then-No. 9 LSU hosts Florida State.
- Clemson visits Syracuse.
- Michigan State at Washington State.
- North Carolina travels across town for Wake Forest’s home opener against Virginia Tech before facing N.C. State.
- No. 10 Tennessee takes on Pitt at Neyland Stadium while Miami travels across state lines for its opener against Louisville before hosting Temple.
- No. 11 Oregon State visits Boise State and Wisconsin plays host to Utah.
Other Non-Ranked Matchups
- UCF travels across state lines for its opener against USF.
- Baylor hosts Houston while TCU welcomes Kansas.
Injury Updates
- Oklahoma’s backup QB Jackson Arnold is expected back from knee surgery around mid-August.
- LSU coach Brian Kelly stated that starting left tackle Will Campbell is expected back “in time” but didn’t provide a specific timeline.
- Florida coach Billy Napier mentioned that starting right tackle Amari Kight suffered an ACL injury during spring practice.
- Georgia running backs Zamir White (ankle) and Kenny McIntosh (knee) are both expected back “in time,” according to coach Kirby Smart.
- USC wide receiver Jordan Addison underwent surgery following an appendectomy.
Upcoming Games in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania will host four games featuring FBS teams during September:
- Penn State at Iowa
- Pitt at Tennessee
- PSU hosting Maryland
- PSU visiting West Virginia
Penn State has not hosted Maryland since 1990.
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