AUSTIN, Texas — A sold-out stadium, Texas heat and a chance to end a two-game losing streak to Ohio State are setting the scene for Saturday night’s Texas-Ohio State matchup.
It will be the sixth all-time meeting between the programs. Ohio State leads the series 3-2 and has won the last two games: a 28-14 win in the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal and a 14-7 win in last season’s opener in Columbus, Ohio.
Texas enters after a 59-7 win over Texas State in its season opener. Quarterback Arch Manning completed 20 of 28 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns. The Longhorns totaled 516 yards, including 360 passing yards and 156 rushing yards. Wide receiver Ryan Wingo had seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Ohio State opened its season with a 56-3 win over Ball State. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Ohio State scored on its opening possession and led 35-0 at halftime.
Ohio State Athletics calls Saturday its “first road test of the 2026 season.” All six meetings in the series have featured top 10 teams, and four have been matchups between top five teams.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” is in Austin for the game, the third consecutive Texas-Ohio State matchup the show has covered.
The game is sold out. As of last Wednesday, Sept. 9, ticket prices on SeatGeek and other third-party sellers ranged from a few hundred dollars to five-digit price tags.
CBS Austin found a single ticket listed on SeatGeek for more than $42,000.
Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Texas’ first home game against Ohio State since 2006.
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The stakes will be high as Texas looks to end its two-game losing streak to Ohio State and tie the all-time series, but so will the heat.
A Heat Advisory is in effect for Austin from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, and the National Weather Service forecasts a high near 104 degrees.
Texas Athletics says DKR will have 19 free “water monsters” throughout the stadium. Fans are also allowed to bring one factory-sealed plastic bottle of water, up to one liter, and are being urged to hydrate before and during the game.
The university expects to welcome more than 100,000 fans to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium as Texas and Ohio State take the field in a matchup that has been a top 10 game each time the teams have met.
CBS Austin will have updates from the game throughout the night.