Week 1 gave Ohio State an opportunity to settle into the season. Week 2 will tell us much more about what this team may eventually become.

The top-ranked Buckeyes travel to Austin for a primetime matchup against No. 5 Texas on Saturday night. Both teams handled their opening assignments comfortably: Ohio State defeated Ball State 56–3, while Texas rolled past Texas State 59–7. Julian Sayin passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ victory, while Jeremiah Smith collected eight receptions for 151 yards and two scores—all before halftime. Arch Manning answered with 305 passing yards and four touchdowns for the Longhorns. 

Those performances provided plenty of highlights, but neither team had to reveal how it would respond when the game tightened. That changes Saturday inside Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.

Predicting Ohio State to win would be bold enough given the opponent and setting, but we’re going a little further. Here are three bold predictions for the Buckeyes’ first major test of 2026.

1. Julian Sayin throws three touchdown passes without committing a turnover

The environment will be louder, the passing windows will be smaller and the pressure will arrive much faster than it did against Ball State. None of that will stop Julian Sayin from delivering one of the best performances of his Ohio State career.

Our first prediction is that Sayin throws for at least 275 yards and three touchdowns without committing a turnover.

Texas produced three takeaways in its opening victory and will try to speed up Sayin with pressure, disguised coverages and an aggressive defensive front. The Buckeyes cannot expect him to stand in the pocket and wait for deep routes to develop on every possession. Arthur Smith will need to help his quarterback with play-action, quick throws, movement and opportunities to get the ball into the hands of Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State’s other playmakers before the pressure arrives.

Sayin does not need to win a statistical shootout with Manning. He needs to make the right decisions when the stadium is at its loudest and protect the football when a play begins to break down. We believe he does both.

The defining moment comes late in the fourth quarter, when Sayin leads a touchdown drive that gives Ohio State the lead for good.

2. Bo Jackson rushes for more than 100 yards

Ohio State finished with impressive rushing numbers against Ball State, but the final total did not tell the complete story. Explosive runs helped the box score, while inconsistent blocking, penalties and limited success on several early-down carries showed that the running game remains a work in progress.

Texas will provide a much more honest evaluation.

Our second bold prediction is that Bo Jackson becomes the first Buckeye to cross 100 rushing yards this season—and he does it against one of the most talented defensive fronts Ohio State will face.

That does not mean Jackson will find open lanes throughout the night. This could be the type of performance in which 15 carries produce only 55 or 60 yards before one fourth-quarter run changes the complexion of the game. His combination of patience, contact balance and acceleration gives Ohio State a runner capable of turning a small crease into the game’s biggest offensive play.

More importantly, Arthur Smith cannot allow Texas to make the Buckeyes one-dimensional. Even modest early success on the ground would slow down the Longhorns’ pass rush, strengthen the play-action game and prevent Texas from devoting all its attention to Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.

Jackson finishes with at least 100 yards, including a run of more than 30 yards, and scores a second-half touchdown.

3. Ohio State intercepts Arch Manning twice and records four sacks

Manning looked comfortable in Texas’ opener, throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns. Saturday’s matchup, however, brings a different kind of pressure—both from Ohio State’s defense and from everything surrounding this rematch.

Matt Patricia does not need to blitz on every passing down to make Manning uncomfortable. The Buckeyes need to change the picture after the snap, generate pressure with their defensive front and avoid allowing Texas receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo to consistently create explosive plays downfield.

Our third prediction is that Ohio State records at least four sacks and intercepts Manning twice.

The Buckeyes may surrender yardage between the 20s. Texas has too much talent to expect another three-point defensive performance. The difference will come on third down and in the red zone, where Ohio State’s ability to disguise coverage and shrink passing windows forces Manning to hold the ball a little longer than he wants.

One interception will come from the secondary while Manning attempts to push the ball downfield. The second will be created by pressure, with a hurried throw producing a short field for the Ohio State offense.

Texas will land punches. Ohio State’s defense will answer with the game’s most important takeaways.