No. 1 Ohio State heads to Austin for a Saturday night heavyweight fight with No. 4 Texas, and there’s plenty packed into the third meeting between these powers in as many seasons. The Buckeyes have won the previous two, including last year’s 14-7 defensive grind, but Arch Manning gets another crack at Ohio State after opening 2026 with 305 passing yards and four touchdowns in Texas’ 59-7 rout of Texas State. Ohio State countered by crushing Ball State 56-3 behind Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and an offense that returns plenty of proven production. This sets up a compelling quarterback clash with early Heisman implications.
Texas has home-field heat and a revamped defense under Will Muschamp, while Ohio State brings the nation’s No. 1 ranking and two straight wins in the series, so Saturday’s showdown should offer plenty of speed, star power and serious college football playoff stakes.
With both teams carrying championship expectations into Austin, the betting market reflects just how little separates the Buckeyes and Longhorns. Here’s how the DraftKings odds board prices Saturday night’s top-5 showdown.
DraftKings odds for Ohio State vs. Texas
No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Texas collide Saturday night in one of the biggest games of the young college football season, and DraftKings oddsmakers have set the top-five showdown close to a coin flip. Texas holds a slight edge at home, while the Buckeyes enter Austin as the nation’s No. 1 team.
Ohio State vs. Texas game linesTeamSpreadMoneylineTotalNo. 1 Ohio State+1.5 (-108)+105Over 49.5 (-108)No. 4 Texas-1.5 (-112)-125Under 49.5 (-112)Ohio State vs. Texas team totalsTeamTeam totalOverUnderOhio State23.5-135+100Texas25.5-105-125DraftKings Ohio State vs. Texas parlays
DraftKings also features several same-game parlays that combine the tight spread with different approaches to the 49.5-point game total.
Visitors Run It Up (+270)
Ohio State +1.5 Over 49.5 $10 bet pays $37
Protect the House (+250)
Texas moneyline Under 49.5 $10 bet pays $35
Home Field Fireworks (+226)
Texas moneyline Over 49.5 $10 bet pays $32
With only 1.5 points separating the teams and DraftKings Sportbook offering options on both scoring directions, Saturday’s Ohio State-Texas matchup gives bettors several ways to approach a marquee game between two national championship contenders.
DraftKings odds are subject to change.
Trade on your insights with DraftKings Predictions across top CFB matchup markets.Dimers Sports BettingCFB betting preview: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas Longhorns
Explore the interactive widget below to track the latest spread, total, moneyline odds and implied probabilities for Saturday’s OSU-Texas matchup in Austin, TX.
Here are the key details for Saturday’s marquee CFB matchup, including the latest traditional odds:
Game detailsTeams: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas LonghornsDate: Saturday, September 12, 2026Time: 7:30 PM ETVenue: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium | Austin, TXTV: ABC, Disney+CFB standings: Current CFB regular season standingsNCAA/CFB news: Check the latest updates from the official NCAA CFB news siteExpert Prediction: OSU vs. Texas
Dimers’ 10,000 simulations make this matchup every bit as tight as the betting line suggests. The model gives Texas a 51% win probability and Ohio State 49%, with an average projected final score of Texas 26, Ohio State 25. With virtually nothing separating the teams on paper, home field gives the Longhorns only the slightest simulated edge.
Best Bet: Ohio State +1
Ohio State +1 is our best bet in a matchup where the market and models both expect to stay close. The Buckeyes have covered in each of their last four meetings with Texas, winning three of those games outright, including a 14-7 victory last season and a 28-14 win in the College Football Playoff following the 2024 season. Ohio State also opened 2026 with a 56-3 win over Ball State, piling up 671 yards while allowing only three points, and the Buckeyes enter Saturday 1-0 ATS. In what projects as another one-score scrap, getting the nation’s No. 1 team plus a point offers value while also protecting against a razor-thin Texas win.
For further insights, explore Dimers’ expert college football player props and college football futures, as well as constantly updated college football odds and the latest college football news.
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Ohio State-Texas brings playoff pressure, star quarterbacks and one of the tightest lines on Saturday’s board. DraftKings Sportsbook gives bettors several ways to attack the top-five showdown, from the spread and total to team totals and same-game parlays.
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