Ohio State Defeats Top-Ranked Texas 14-7 in Defensive Season Opener

The Texas Longhorns, led by quarterback Arch Manning, suffered a disappointing 14-7 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in their 2025 season opener. Critics like Stephen A. Smith and former Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho placed much of the blame on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian for a conservative and basic offensive game plan that failed to maximize Manning's strengths against Ohio State's disciplined defense. Sarkisian himself credited Ohio State's defense and disciplined play, highlighting their zero turnovers and minimal penalties, and acknowledged the game as a measuring stick for Texas's progress. Despite Manning's struggles, completing 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception, Sarkisian noted flashes of potential in the quarterback's performance. Meanwhile, some media outlets showed bias by downplaying Ohio State's win, framing Texas as overrated rather than giving proper credit to the Buckeyes' defensive effort. Overall, the game underscored Ohio State's defensive prowess under coordinator Matt Patricia and raised questions about Texas's offensive strategy moving forward.