Buckeye Nation overwhelmingly thinks offensive line is the key to beating Texas

Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email Buckeye Nation overwhelmingly thinks offensive line.

The Game of the Year happens in Austin, Texas tonight as the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes visit Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium for a primetime matchup with the No. 4 Texas Longhorns. This is the third straight season in which the two teams have met, with the Buckeyes winning the previous two. While there is some measure of flexibility in the 12-team playoff era, the result still carries significant ramifications that will help determine the course of this college football season.

To get a feel for where Buckeye Nation is in relation to this game, this week we asked The Best Damn Fans in the Land a couple of questions in our weekly fan survey.

The first question was about who had to show out in order for OSU to complete the three-peat of UT. The second was about who would win — and by how much — in Austin tonight. Check out the full results below, and if you want to explain your rationale or add another option, head down to the comments and break it down. And if you are itching to get some action, you should head to FanDuel Sportsbook and start making some college football picks, especially since they are the sponsor for today’s article.

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Let’s be honest, this is obviously the correct answer, and the overwhelming majority of respondents confirmed that. In the initial survey article, I alluded to the fact that if you look back at the games between these teams in the previous two seasons, you could eliminate a couple of the options. I was referencing the fact that the Buckeyes have beaten Texas in two straight years without especially impressive games from either Jeremiah Smith or Julian Sayin.

In the Cotton Bowl following the 2024 season, obviously Sayin didn’t play, but Smith had only one catch for three yards. Then, in the 2025 season opener, Sayin got his first collegiate start and went 13-for-20 with one touchdown, and Smith had six catches for 43 yards. So it is clearly possible for the Buckeyes to beat Texas without their star quarterback and wide receiver having great games… obviously it would be a heck of a lot easier if they had record-breaking nights, but it is not a prerequisite for victory.

In our Texas game predictions article, I took the Buckeyes to win in Austin, 31-20. So, that would put me in the 88-14 point segment that XX% of our respondents were in. But to be honest, I think when I initially voted in the poll, I took OSU by 15+. Now, my pulling back a little certainly should not be interpreted as a lack of faith in the Buckeyes’ ability to beat Texas, but rather in recognizing just what a cool and challenging test they are in for tonight.

I clearly want my alma mater to win tonight, but regardless of the outcome, I think just the fact that this game is being played at all is incredibly good for the team and its ability to navigate its exceedingly difficult schedule and survive the playoff. We saw what can happen to an untested team when it has to take a step or four up in competition in the postseason last year.

Also, the fact that arguably the two biggest brands and programs in college football are voluntarily playing a regular-season, non-conference game is good for the sport. I know a lot of schools are looking to drop out-of-conference marquee matchups, but good on OSU and UT for not succumbing to that kind of fear and routinely scheduling these types of matchups.

Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Visit FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your college football betting needs.