The Ohio State Buckeyes take down Texas Longhorns in the top 3 in the Week 1 matchup in the Horseshoe. Here are four takeaways from the game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes take down the Texas Longhorns once again in a tight defensive thriller 14-7. If you were at the Horseshoe, this game did not even feel close until the last drive. The Buckeyes’ defense set the tone early, forcing Texas into uncomfortable situations all night. On offense, there were still some growing pains, but enough flashes to show this unit has serious upside as the season goes on.

Here are some takeaways from this top 3 matchup and our first look at how the Buckeyes will shape up to be this year…

Buckeye Defense

Matt Patricia was a home run hire. The way he disguised his coverages had Texas and Arch Manning confused all day. Even Coach Sarkisian credited him in his postgame press conference for the challenge he presented. Caleb Downs was able to play freely, and this secondary looks absolutely legit. Jermaine Matthews looked every bit like Cornerback 1 after this game. Davison Igbinosun and Devin Sanchez both had strong moments as well, flashing their potential throughout the day.

The defensive standout of the day, however, was Arvell Reese, who had a true coming-out party. He finished with 9 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss. His ability to get sideline to sideline was on full display, and he even stepped in to rush the passer when Kenyatta Jackson went down. While I would have liked to see the defensive line create a bit more consistent havoc in the backfield, that is really just being nit picky against the nation’s No. 1 opponent.

Promising Offense

I thought Julian Sayin was highly accurate and made great decisions all day. When his first read was not there, he was still able to extend plays and looked poised doing so. The pass catchers were not helping him early with three drops, but they settled in after that. Carnell Tate’s two big catches were probably Sayin’s best throws of the day. The offensive line is rotating six guys, and both tackles looked strong. Phillip Daniels has now solidified himself at right tackle after taking on Colin Simmons and handling him well.

While the Buckeyes did not run the ball as effectively as they needed, that Texas front seven is very good and I expect the ground game to settle in as the season goes on. They still got some push in the front when they needed it. The passing attack did not stretch the field too much, but that was mostly because of game situation. Over the next few weeks, expect to see what this offense truly is and what it can become.

Texas Struggles

Arch Manning flat-out struggled. When Texas finally had some open receivers, Arch missed those throws regularly. He proved he still has a lot of growing to do before he can lead this team to a big win. On 4th down, the Longhorns went just 1-for-5 and that was a complete game changer for the Buckeyes. The defensive line that Texas was so excited about didn’t record a sack either. Colin Simmons was handled well by the Buckeyes, and that should be a good sign for the Ohio State offensive line moving forward.

Buckeyes Are Rolling

Ohio State found a way to win, and the defense showed it can once again carry this team in big moments. This game highlighted the promise of what the unit can truly be, with speed, discipline, and playmakers stepping up across the board. In the coming weeks, I expect just as much excitement about the offense because the Buckeyes clearly have the pieces in place.

Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will expand the playbook, and we will get a clearer picture of what this group can become. Julian Sayin already looks poised and accurate, and no moment appears too big for him, which is exactly what you want from a QB1 at Ohio State.

Arvell Reese was the clear defensive standout, and it feels like he will be making big plays all year for the Buckeyes. Performances like these shows this team has the resilience and the balance to compete with anyone. If the defense continues to play at this level and the offense finds its rhythm, Ohio State will be a legitimate threat to win it all again this year.