Buckeye State of the Union: Ohio State is set to host No. 1 Texas on Saturday, so let’s evaluate the state of the program for the 2025 season.

Welcome to the first Buckeye State of the Union for the 2025 season. As Ohio State gears up for its Week 1 showdown against Texas, there’s plenty to unpack about the defending National Champions and the state of the program under Ryan Day.

The Buckeyes enter the season as the “attacking national champions,” a term Day has embraced to describe his motivated squad. At quarterback, Ohio State will start Julian Sayin, who will look to guide a talented skill position group that includes James Peoples and C.J. Donaldson at running back. 

Outside of that, key returning players such as Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss will provide reliable options. Smith, in particular, stands out as the best player in the country, giving the Buckeyes a game-changing weapon.

TE Max Klare is another key addition, and someone I expect to be heavily involved on Saturday against Texas. Ohio State’s offensive line has added a few transfers, creating a unit expected to perform at a high level and protect Sayin while opening lanes for the running backs. 

On defense, leadership will come from Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles, two players whose influence will be critical for Ohio State’s success throughout the season.

The Buckeyes are navigating some changes in the coaching staff, with Brian Hartline promoted from within and Matt Patricia joining the staff. Patricia brings NFL head coaching experience and defensive expertise, which should help shape a unit capable of being among the best in the nation. 

The biggest questions for Week 1 will be how quickly the team gels with the new coordinators and how well the quarterback position handles early-season pressure.

Turnovers will be a key area to watch against Texas. Any miscues will be costly against a Longhorns team that, while replacing significant talent, enters as the consensus No. 1 team in America. Ohio State will also look to test the interior of Texas’ defensive line, which will be a challenge for both the offensive line and running backs.

This game has numerous potential outcomes that would not surprise me, ranging from Ohio State winning by two touchdowns or Texas winning by 10. The answer is most likely in between, and the betting lines predict Ohio State by 1.5 points, which slightly edges in Texas’ favor with home-field advantage (3 points) factored in for the Buckeyes. 

Overall, this is an extremely talented Ohio State roster and staff. But with new coordinators and several key departures, Week 1 will provide an early glimpse at how the Buckeyes match up in a talent-equated game.

Stay tuned for my full prediction on this matchup, coming Thursday on Saturday Cadence, where I’ll break it down with David Werheim and Grant Kincaid. You can also catch the prediction in our staff picks article, releasing on Friday.