I'm so ready for the upcoming weekend because it's time for payback. Texas Longhorns football looks to get its revenge against Ohio State after losing to them in the College Football Playoffs last season. Texas was so close to achieving its goal of winning the national championship in 2024/2025, only for it to slip away at the hands of the Buckeyes. With a brand new team, the Longhorns look to make a statement during week 1 of the 2025 college football season.
Here are four important storylines to follow this weekend:
1. Deja Vu
Isn't it weird that the Longhorns are playing the team that eliminated them in the postseason during week 1 this weekend? I don't think the Longhorns and the Buckeyes saw this coming when they originally scheduled the game. Now that it's a reality, the Longhorns look to begin their quest for the national championship with a decisive statement win over the reigning national champions.
Talk about a great matchup to get the college football season underway.
2. Who has the better backfield?
C.J. Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner look to prove that they're two of the top running backs in the nation against C.J. Donaldson and James Peoples, OSU's RB duo. Baxter and Wisner were named to the preseason Doak Walker Award list, and Texas hasn't had two running backs of this caliber in years. James Peoples is expected to be the starting running back for the Buckeyes. This is another storyline that fans will have to watch this weekend as the two teams face off against each other.
3. Defensive hype
Texas Longhorn fans are in for a defensive treat this season. They have many young, talented players, such as Colin Simmons, who are eager to take on Buckeyes QB Julian Sayin this weekend. The Longhorns' defense will get an early test against a solid Buckeyes offense that is expected to give them fits. One thing that fans should watch is if Texas comes out disguising a lot of different blitzes to confuse Sayin. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sayin running for his life throughout the first quarter.
4. Arch Manning
There's no one with more pressure on his shoulders than Arch Manning in 2025. Expected to be a first overall pick in the NFL Draft whenever he decides to leave college football, he looks to live up to the hype as a starting quarterback. He did start a couple of games last season, and won't have those first-career-game jitters. Steve Sarkisian has told Manning not to do anything superhuman this weekend. However, I'm sure he's nervous going up against one of the best teams in the country.