The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns are set to clash on September 12, 2026, at Darrell K. Royal‑Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, a matchup that pits the nation’s top‑ranked team against a program eager to reclaim its place among the elite.
Game Details
The contest will be televised nationally on ABC and streamed on ESPN and Fubo, giving fans multiple ways to watch the high‑stakes showdown.
A year earlier, Ohio State edged Texas 14‑7 in the season opener, finished undefeated and earned the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff, while Texas, despite beginning the 2025 season atop the AP poll, fell short of the playoff.
Entering the 2026 season, Ohio State remains the No. 1 team in both the LBM Coaches Poll and the AP poll, whereas Texas is positioned fourth in the Coaches poll and fifth in the AP poll, underscoring the significance of the early‑season encounter.
Quarterbacks Julian Sayin of Ohio State and Arch Manning of Texas headline the Heisman conversation, with Manning listed at +850 and Sayin at +1400, while wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the Big Ten’s leading receiver, and transfer Cam Coleman, regarded as the top receiver available, add further intrigue.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State’s defense returns standout Kenyatta Jackson Jr., while Texas’s offense will lean on the emerging talent of A.J. Holmes Jr., promising a blend of experience and fresh firepower.
Analysts expect the game to serve as a litmus test for both teams’ championship aspirations, with the outcome potentially reshaping the early‑season rankings and the Heisman race.
The broadcast team has assembled a robust production plan, and the widespread availability on television and streaming platforms suggests a high level of public interest in what many anticipate will be one of the most compelling games of the year.