Buckeyes Stun No. 1 Longhorns in Season Opener, 14-7
Columbus, OH — The Ohio State Buckeyes kicked off the 2025 college football season with a gritty 14-7 victory over the top-ranked Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, August 30. In a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, the No. 3 Buckeyes leaned on a suffocating defense and timely plays to pull off the upset in front of a roaring home crowd.
The game was a defensive slugfest from the start, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm early. Ohio State broke the deadlock in the second quarter when CJ Donaldson powered in for a 1-yard touchdown run, capping an 87-yard, 13-play drive that chewed up eight minutes of clock. The Buckeyes’ defense, led by new coordinator Matt Patricia, set the tone, harassing Texas quarterback Arch Manning all day. Manning, making his first start as the Longhorns’ full-time starter, completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards but was sacked once, intercepted once, and stopped short on two critical fourth-down plays in the red zone.
For Texas, the loss is a rare early-season setback for the preseason No. 1 team. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian praised his team’s effort but pointed to missed opportunities. “We didn’t execute in key moments, and Ohio State made us pay,” Sarkisian said. “Arch showed some great flashes, but we’ve got work to do.”
The Buckeyes carry this momentum into their next game against Grambling State, while Texas looks to rebound at home against San Jose State.
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