COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day gave his team 15 minutes to celebrate Saturday’s 56-3 win over Ball State at Ohio Stadium before turning the program to next Saturday’s game at the No. 5 Texas Longhorns.
The top-ranked Buckeyes visit Austin on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Ohio State has beaten Texas in each of the last two seasons. The Longhorns opened the year ranked fifth in the AP Top 25, and Day called the trip a “monster game.”
“The minute we (left) the locker room, it’s on to Texas,” Day said. “There’ll be times we enjoy (wins) through the night. Not this one.”
Ohio State led Ball State 28-3 at halftime and rested many of its starters in the second half. Entering the game, the Buckeyes were 50 1/2-point favorites, according to The Associated Press.
Ryan Day Says Ohio State Built Its Offseason Around Road Wins
Day said the entire offseason and preseason was designed around winning big games on the road, beginning with the chance to beat the Longhorns for a third consecutive season.
“A great opponent. They have really good talent across the board,” Day explained. “So it’s going to be a great environment.
“But this is what we’re going to have to do this year when you look at our schedule,” Day continued. “We’re going to have to be able to go on the road and win games like this.”
The two programs met in the Cotton Bowl semifinal on Jan. 10, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where Ohio State won 28-14 on the way to a national championship. On Aug. 30, 2025, the Buckeyes beat then-No. 1 Texas 14-7 in the season opener at Ohio Stadium. Arch Manning threw for 170 yards with 1 interception in that game, and Texas converted 5-of-14 third downs.
Ohio State leads the all-time series 3-2. Sept. 12 will be the sixth meeting and the third in consecutive seasons.
Jeremiah Smith Passes Marvin Harrison Jr. On Ohio State Career List
Jeremiah Smith had 151 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half and did not play after halftime. His career receiving total moved to 2,709 yards, seventh in school history, passing Marvin Harrison Jr. His 28th and 29th career touchdown catches broke a tie with Cris Carter for fifth place at Ohio State.
In 2025, Smith caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns and finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.
Day said the game plan was built to get Smith the ball.
“The game plan was suited to make sure he touched the ball,” Day said, “and he did a great job of making some plays. … we decided to hold him in the second half, which, for Jeremiah, he understands what’s coming.”
Julian Sayin Pulled Early In Third Quarter
Julian Sayin completed 21-of-25 passes for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns before Ohio State pulled him early in the third quarter. Last season, Sayin finished fourth in Heisman voting and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Against Texas in the 2025 opener, Sayin threw for 126 yards and 1 touchdown without a turnover.
Saturday was the first game for Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who spent the previous two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per the AP. The Buckeyes have eight new starters on a defense that led the nation in total defense in 2025.
The Buckeyes have been thinking about the Longhorns all summer, Sayin said.
“It’s full throttle on to Texas,” Sayin said. “And we can’t wait for the matchup.”
Texas Opens Against Texas State Before Ohio State Week
Texas beat Texas State 59-7 on Saturday afternoon in its season opener before 102,738 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Manning completed 20-of-27 passes for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception before Texas pulled him in the third quarter with the Longhorns ahead 42-7. Manning threw touchdown passes to Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo on Texas’ first two possessions. Coleman caught 3 passes for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns in his Longhorns debut, and Wingo caught 7 passes for 121 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Longhorns went 10-3 in 2025, 6-2 in the SEC, and beat Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Ohio State went 12-2, lost to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game, and lost 24-14 to Miami in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl.
ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast from the Texas campus from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT on Sept. 12 ahead of the 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
