Texas looked the part on Saturday.
The No. 5 Longhorns opened the 2026 season with a 59-7 win over Texas State, piling up 516 yards of offense while holding the Bobcats to 349 total yards. Texas scored on eight of its nine drives and forced three turnovers.
The headline, of course, was Arch Manning.
Manning completed 20 of 27 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns, matching his career high for touchdown passes. Ryan Wingo added seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, while Texas newcomer Cam Coleman caught three passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
So...what should Ohio State actually take from it?
Arch Manning Looks Different
This is the obvious one.
Manning’s performance against Texas State was a significant contrast to his first start against Ohio State last season. In the Buckeyes’ 14-7 victory in Columbus, Manning threw for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Now, we shouldn’t pretend Texas State and Ohio State are remotely comparable.
But Manning looked confident and efficient Saturday, spreading the ball to eight different receivers. He’s also entering this matchup with an additional year of experience.
The takeaway isn’t that Arch is going to light up Ohio State.
It’s that Ohio State can’t expect to see the same quarterback it saw last year.
Texas Has Some Serious Weapons
The combination of Wingo and Coleman immediately gives Manning some serious options.
Wingo had 121 receiving yards in the opener, while Coleman scored twice in his Texas debut.
And Texas showed it can create explosive plays on the ground, too.
Hollywood Smothers rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries, including a 45-yard run on Texas’ opening drive. The Longhorns finished with 156 rushing yards on 36 attempts.
Again, the competition level matters.
But the explosive-play potential is real.
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The New Texas Defense Is Worth Watching
This is one of the biggest unknowns heading into Saturday.
Texas replaced Pete Kwiatkowski with Will Muschamp, who returned to Austin as defensive coordinator this offseason. Saturday was our first game to see what that new-look defense looks like in a real game.
The Longhorns forced three turnovers, recorded eight tackles for loss and held Texas State to seven points. Maraad Watson recorded a sack and forced a fumble, while Rasheem Biles added an interception.
That’s encouraging for Texas.
But Ohio State is going to be a completely different test.
The Buckeyes just put up 671 total yards in a 56-3 win over Ball State. Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State also ran for 237 yards.
Muschamp’s defense is about to find out what it really has.
So, What Do We Actually Know?
Honestly?
Not that much.
Texas did exactly what a top-five team should do against Texas State: dominate the game, get its stars involved, create turnovers and move on.
But Saturday will answer the questions that Week 1 couldn’t.
Can Texas protect Arch Manning against Ohio State’s defensive front?
Can the Longhorns consistently run the football?
Can Will Muschamp’s new defense slow down Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith?
And perhaps most importantly:
Can Texas play this well when the opponent is No. 1 Ohio State?
That’s what makes Saturday so fascinating.
Texas has looked good.
Ohio State has looked good.
Neither team has really been tested yet.
We’re about to find out.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
