​Ranking the top 25 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft in Ohio State-Texas, including Jeremiah Smith, Arch Manning originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Texas on Saturday is one of those games where all 32 NFL teams will have someone in attendance. Look at the amount of next-level NFL talent the Buckeyes and Longhorns bring to the field. Is Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith or Texas quarterback Arch Manning the better bet to be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft? How many Buckeyes and Longhorns will be drafted in the first round?The teams met in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 10, 2025. A total of 25 players were drafted in the ensuing 2025 NFL Draft. This game could match that output. It’s not just 2027 either. There are some freshman playmakers that will be on the radar soon enough. Here is your guide to the absurd amount of NFL talent that will be on display at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.MORE: Predicting Ohio State-Texas and other Top 25 gamesOhio State and Texas in NFL Draft Ohio State and Texas are tied with Georgia with 29 NFL Draft picks the last three seasons. The Buckeyes led all schools with 14 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, which came after Ohio State won the first 12-team College Football Playoff championship. The Buckeyes also led the 2026 NFL Draft with 11 picks.Ohio State has nine first-round picks in the last three NFL Drafts. Texas had six NFL Draft picks in 2026 after back-to-back seasons with double-digit picks. That included 12 picks in 2025 and 11 picks in 2024. The Longhorns had seven first-round picks in the last three years.WEEK 1 REVIEW: Overreactions | Coaching debuts | QB debutsOhio State vs. Texas NFL Draft picks  (2024-26) YEAROHIO STATETEXAS2024411202514122026116Ohio State vs. Texas: Top 25 prospects for 2027 NFL DraftHere is a look at the top 25 prospects from Ohio State and Texas heading into Saturday’s matchup – including possible No. 1 picks, first-round picks and more.2027 NFL Draft: Possible No. 1 pick1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Smith (6-3, 223) is the top prospect on our 2027 NFL Draft Big Board – and with good reasons. He totaled 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 TDs heading into his junior season. Will he be the first receiver taken with the No. 1 pick since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996? He started the season with eight catches on nine targets for 151 yards and two TDs. ONE-HANDED… WE ARE ALL DRAFTING JEREMIAH SMITH NEXT YEAR 🔥pic.twitter.com/j71I1OT3t6— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) September 5, 20262. Arch Manning, QB, Texas Manning (6-4, 222) remains a top quarterback prospect with a royal NFL QB bloodline – and he opened the season with 305 passing yards and four TDs against Texas State. Manning did try to fit a late throw into the end zone that resulted in an interception. The rematch against Ohio