(Photo: Clutchpoints)

(1) Ohio State Buckeyes at (4) Texas Longhorns

Ohio State (1-0):

I don’t expect anything less from them this year. They will finish at the top of the Big Ten, punch their ticket to Indianapolis to play in the conference championship game, be one of the top five seeds in the College Football Playoff, and have a fighting chance at making the National Championship. In their opener against Ball State, I remember when they were pinned at the one-yard line early on, and as they attempted to run the football, it was for minimal gains. But once they put their minds to it, it was on from there. At the skill positions, they are stacked with Julian Sayin at quarterback, Bo Jackson in the backfield at running back, and of course, I can’t forget the wide receiver room! Chris Henry Jr., who’s the son of the late Chris Henry, Brandon Inniss, and of course, Jeremiah Smith, who I feel is the best player in America and will be a solid pro for years to come. Here’s what I’m getting at: the Buckeyes are so unfairly talented at the skill spots, and when they’re on their game and find their groove, it’s close to impossible to beat them. Defensively, that’s where I feel it will be an uphill battle, ushering in eight brand-new starters, and it’s never easy replacing players with the caliber of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs. Tonight, the top-ranked team in the country will play under the lights in Austin for a huge showdown.

Texas (1-0):

I can honestly say I’m still trying to get a feel for this group. I believe Steve Sarkisian is a good coach, and look at the talent they have been able to land that we all know will be playing in the NFL eventually. Last season was a roller coaster for this program, and they entered the season with such high expectations, but inconsistent football and playing down to their competition are what would ultimately hurt them in the end. The main concern I had with the Texas Longhorns a season ago was the mishandling of Arch Manning, and I say that because you can’t put everything on the plate of your quarterback, hoping he’ll shoulder everything, because when that happens, he will press, and unfortunately, when a quarterback does just that, it results in turnovers and sloppy football all around. I do believe they will be a better team this year, and their only challenge is themselves, if I’m being frank. This is a program and a fan base that’s been yearning for a winner and another championship, not just an appearance in the big game, but to bring the hardware home for the first time since the 2005 season. The Longhorns will welcome the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes to town tonight for, hopefully, a cinematic showdown.

Ohio State X-Factor: Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

The inevitable was bound to happen, and the Buckeyes lost all that defensive talent in Reese, Styles, and Downs. Kenyatta was on the roster last year and flew under the radar because of those names I mentioned, but now, he’s a veteran leader on this defense. Kenyatta is stout against the run and can collapse the pocket when given the green light. If he can get pressure without Ohio State having to send additional men on the blitz, this changes the entire game.

Texas X-Factor: Hollywood Smothers

It’s still okay to run the football, ladies and gentlemen! I already know what to expect from the Texas passing attack, but right here is what can make or break them, and this is where Hollywood comes into the picture. If they commit to running the ball, he provides the Longhorns with the balance they need and will need to show they can run the ball against this aggressive defensive front of the Buckeyes.

Final Thoughts:

Tonight will mark the third meeting in over a year between these two, with Ohio State winning both matchups. They met in January last year with a trip to the National Championship on the line, and the Buckeyes cruised en route to another title. Last season, they opened the season against each other in Columbus, and the then-No. 1-ranked team in Texas was upset by Ohio State. Over a year later, we have a top-four matchup, this time in Austin. My initial storyline entering this game is all of the NFL-caliber talent we will see tonight, such as Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry Jr., Bo Jackson, and, on the Texas side, Arch, Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman, and Colin Simmons, just to name a few. Can this offensive line of the Buckeyes hold up in pass protection? The Longhorns hired Will Muschamp as their new defensive coordinator, and next to the Hurricanes and Hoosiers’ defenses, this will be another tough unit that Julian Sayin will face, so it will be key for him to stay upright and on his feet at all times to avoid the havoc the Texas defense will want to create. Next, make Arch Manning uncomfortable! The key will be to collapse the pocket with their front four so their secondary doesn’t have to sacrifice in coverage against Coleman and Wingo, and the last key for the Buckeyes is to establish balance with their ground attack. Getting an effective rushing attack going and picking up those tough yards will take the crowd out of the game and force the Longhorns’ defense to account for the run. On the Texas side, I want to see what this team has learned since that Week 1 meeting last season in Columbus. Can they put their trust in the run game? Against Texas State, this was the primary concern. Commit to the run and wait for the explosives. The next key is to force Julian Sayin to move. When he’s protected and has the time to throw the ball, he’s the most accurate quarterback in the nation. It will be key to force him out of the pocket and make throws off-platform, and the final key is Arch must be brilliant. He will need to make special plays with both his arm and his legs to propel his team to a victory. We should be in for a treat tonight!

Prediction:

Ohio State 35, Texas 27