​Arch Manning gets his second crack at Ohio State as Texas’ starting quarterback Saturday night in Austin. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
AUSTIN – It’s only the second week of September, but there’s already a titanic matchup at Royal-Memorial Stadium with No. 1 Ohio State facing No. 4 Texas, starting at 6:30 p.m. (ABC).The college football powers actually have faced off frequently over the past three years. Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals on the Buckeyes’ way to the national championship. Ohio State came out on top again in last year’s season opener, beating the Longhorns 14-7 in Columbus, Ohio.Now, Arch Manning will get another shot at the Buckeyes, but this time at home.Follow along here for live updates throughout the game…KD sightingHouston Rockets star Kevin Durant is on the Texas sidelines alongside the usual suspects like Matthew McConaughey and Glen Powell. Durant was the college basketball player of the year at Texas in 2007 in the one year he played in college. – Matt YoungDerrek Cooper warming upTexas freshman running back Derrek Cooper, who injured his ankle in last week’s opener, is on the field and taking part in pregame warmups. Cooper, a four-star recruit from Florida, had two carries for six yards last week before he left with the ankle injury. – Matt YoungIt’s a scorcherIt’s a nice 77-degree day in Columbus, Ohio, but not so pleasant here where it’s 100 degrees an hour before kickoff. ESPN showed a temperature reading of 160 degrees on the turf. We’ll have to be on the look out for cramping, especially from the guys who haven’t practiced in this heat. – Matt YoungCollege Gameday picksTexas is a one-point favorite at home against Ohio State, but if you were to judge from the panelists on ESPN’s “College Gameday,” you may not get the impressions that it’s going to be that close. As expected, celebrity guest picker Glenn Powell chose his alma mater, but so did Desmond Howard, Nick Saban and Pat McAfee. – Matt YoungMore reading about the gameTexas and Ohio State are treating Saturday like any other game. It really won’t beESPN’s Chris Fowler on Texas-Ohio State, juggling tennis and football, and ‘joke’ schedulingTexas vs. Ohio State: How to watch, date, time, TV channelSubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at No. 4 Texas vs. No. 1 Ohio State: Live updates, analysis, how to watch.