Week 2 for the Texas Longhorns continues to garner more and more attention, and alongside it, has started to carry more and more pressure.
That includes a slew of blue-chip prospects coming to town to see the Horns take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a game that suddenly means a lot more than just a regular-season matchup.
Also read: Steve Sarkisian given perfect chance to cement 5-star Ismael Camara's commitment
Five-star prospects galore will be on the sidelines, and that now includes none other than wide receiver Easton Royal, the very Texas commit who has been the focus of "flip watch" conversations for... ever?
Now, Royal will be in attendance as the Longhorns and Buckeyes take the field, giving the game a do-or-die feeling when it comes to Texas holding on to Royal's commitment to the program.
Texas vs. Ohio State will affect more than the wins and losses columns
Despite being committed to the Longhorns since November of last year, choosing Texas (yes, that was an Ella Langley reference) over teams like the LSU Tigers, Florida Gators, and more.
Then, over the last eight or so months, he has done virtually nothing to solidify that commitment, taking official and unofficial visits, praising other coaches and programs, and seemingly stringing along the Horns.
A Louisiana native, LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin have become the undeniable frontrunners to flip Royal's commitment away from the Horns and in their direction.
Now, that commitment could easily hang in the balance of whether or not Texas is able to hold off Ohio State and secure the Week 2 victory.
It could simply come down to Royal watching the game unfold and thinking, "Oh, this team can't even win at home, I'll just stay in Louisiana and play for the Tigers and Lane Kiffin," or, while on the sidelines at DKR, he could think, "Dang, look at this team stick it to the Buckeyes, look at these amazing future teammates and coaches I'm standing beside. I definitely want to be part of this."
Now, of course, his verbiage might be a little different, and it might not actually come down to an internal monologue for the five-star wideout. But at this point, that is truly what his recruitment has started to feel like.
In an earlier report, Texas recruiting insider Sam Spiegelman shared that he expected a final decision to come from Royal in September or October. Well, this Texas-Ohio State matchup is scheduled to kick off on Sept. 12, right in the middle of that window.
Read more: Losing Easton Royal may actually help Texas catch Monshun Sales's attention again
Ultimately, whether Royal sticks with the Longhorns or flips to the LSU Tigers is up to him, and no matter how "all in" Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian goes on the weekend, both on the field and on the sidelines, it may come down to the most minute of details.
Texas and Ohio State are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 12, with blue-chip prospects like Royal, Ismael Camara, and more on the sidelines. A win would mean a lot to the Horns' resume, but it could also mean a whole lot for their recruiting class as well.
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