Get ready, college football fans, because Week 2 just got absolutely *bonkers* with the news that the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes are 1.5-point underdogs against the No. 4 Texas Longhorns. This isn’t just a big game, it’s a seismic shift, marking the first time in 33 games that Ohio State has been an underdog. We’re talking about a massive statement right out of the gate, and it’s happening Saturday night in Austin.
This is a marquee showdown of top-5 teams, and it could totally set the national title conversation early. Texas is hosting from Texas Memorial Stadium, bringing their fresh talent like quarterback Arch Manning and Cam Coleman. They’re coming off a solid 59-7 win over Texas State, where Manning lit it up for 360 pass yards. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes, led by Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin, absolutely crushed Ball State 56-3, piling up nearly 700 total yards. Both offenses looked unstoppable in Week 1, making this underdog status for OSU even more surprising.
Week 1 Fireworks vs. Defensive Grit
So, we saw both teams basically do whatever they wanted on offense last week, each finishing in the upper-50s in points. That’s wild! But don’t let those big scores fool you. Texas and Ohio State allowed a combined 10 points in their opening games. Both squads are rocking one of the Top 10 defensive fronts, according to CBS Sports, and Ohio State ranked 12th in completion percentage allowed last season. This isn’t just about offense; these defenses can absolutely shut down an opponent.
This isn’t the first time these two have met in the early season either. Last year, they opened with a showdown in Columbus, and the Buckeyes won that one 14-7. That game finished *well* under the total. When you factor in the defensive talent and that recent history, it sounds like we’re in for a true chess match on Saturday, not another Week 1 shootout.
The Model Is Calling a Defensive Brawl
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and boasts a 33-20 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks since 2024, has made its call. Despite those huge Week 1 offensive numbers, the model is going **Under** the 49.5-point total for Ohio State vs. Texas. This isn’t just some random guess, this model has been upgraded for the 2026 season to better factor in the transfer portal, so it knows its stuff.
This game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET. It’s No. 1 vs. No. 4, with the undefeated Buckeyes suddenly finding themselves in an unfamiliar underdog spot. The stakes couldn’t be higher for setting the tone for their national title aspirations. Get ready, because this is going to be a battle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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