College football experts, talking heads, reporters predictions for Ohio State vs. Texas in opener

Lettermen Row has a full breakdown of every prediction we’ve seen from around the college football world and put them into one big list of picks.

Ohio State WR Brandon Inniss (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — No. 3 Ohio State is set to face No. 1 Texas inside the Horseshoe on Saturday afternoon (12 p.m. on FOX). The two teams will meet for the second time in eight months after the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl semifinal back in January.

Both teams have national championship aspirations. This could even be the first of two meetings this season — if they both make the College Football Playoff this winter.

Experts and talking heads are torn on who will win in Columbus on Saturday. Lettermen Row has a full breakdown of every prediction we’ve seen from around the college football world and put them into one big list of picks.

On3 predictions for Ohio State vs. Texas

On3 national college football reporter Andy Staples: Texas to win

On3 national college football reporter Ari Wasserman: Texas to win

On3 national college football analyst JD PicKell: Texas 23, Ohio State 20

Other predictions from around college football

The Solid Verbal podcast co-host Ty Hildenbrandt: Longhorns 27, Buckeyes 23

The Solid Verbal podcast co-host Dan Rubenstein: Ohio State 24, Texas 17

CBS Sports’ college football analyst Josh Pate: Texas to win

CBS Sports’ national college football reporter Shehan Jeyarajah:

CBS Sports’ national college football reporter Richard Johnson: Texas

Split Zone Duo podcast co-host Alex Kirshner: Buckeyes

Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports: Texas

CBS Sports’ national college football analyst Danny Kanell: Ohio State

CBS Sports’ national college football reporter Tom Fornelli: Buckeyes

CBS Sports’ national college football reporter Chip Patterson: Texas

ESPN FPI: Ohio St 27, Texas 20

ESPN FPI: Texas has a 53.3% win probability

ESPN personality Paul Finebaum: Texas

Analysis from Finebaum: “I expect Texas to beat them, and I think they’re going to beat them badly,” Finebaum said this week on ESPN’s Get Up. “I know people are saying, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ Well, that may be up for debate, but I really think Texas is the better team. I don’t like Ohio State’s situation, from a coaching standpoint. Two new coordinators. Yes, both teams have new quarterbacks, but Arch Manning has a lot more experience than Julian Sayin.”

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy: Texas

Analysis from McElroy: “I think Texas will hold Ohio State under 21 points,” McElroy said. “Looking at the team totals, it’s about 24.5. I thought that 21 was super bold. I think this defense will come to play. If you look last year at how they defended, they did score 28, Ohio State did in the matchup against Texas, but that was on a fumble return of the house late in the game.”

ESPN college football reporter Heather Dinich: Ohio State 

Analysis from Dinich: Ryan Day is 39–3 at home, and only one of those losses was by more than seven points — that was in 2022 to Michigan. This is going to be a close game. I like the Buckeyes,” Dinich said. “They’ve got the best player on offense in Jeremiah Smith, and the best player on defense in Caleb Downs.”

The Athletic’s Chris Vannini: Texas

The Athletic’s David Ubben: Ohio State

Category: General Sports