A Historic Matchup Looms
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns are set to meet in a Week 2 showdown that could rewrite the record books for college football viewership, with both programs ranked among the nation’s top five for the 2026 season.
The contest threatens to surpass the all‑time regular‑season high of 22 million viewers set in 1993, a benchmark that has stood for three decades, while last season’s Week 1 opener between the two drew 16.62 million, the most‑watched Week 1 game in history.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has forecasted roughly 20 million viewers, underscoring the magnitude of the matchup and its potential to eclipse historic numbers.
Adding to the intrigue, six of the top 20 preseason CBS Sports Top 150 players will be on the field, highlighting a concentration of elite talent rarely seen in a regular‑season contest.
Scheduled for Saturday night in Austin at Darrell K. Royal‑Texas Memorial Stadium, the game offers a pivotal early test for playoff aspirations, as both teams are projected to contend for a national championship.
Ohio State entered the 2025 season unbeaten before falling in the Big Ten Championship and CFP quarterfinals, while Texas improved to 10 wins last year and bolstered its roster with new signings, making this meeting a litmus test for their respective title hopes.