Texas will bring the No. 1 ranking to Columbus for the season opener against Ohio State on Aug. 30, but Arch Manning isn’t treating the Longhorns as the hunted. In an Aug. 25 interview, Manning flipped the notion of a big target on Texas, saying the Longhorns intend to shift the narrative and pursue everyone else.
Texas isn’t backing away from the spotlight; Manning said the target isn’t on their backs, but rather on every opponent they face. “We try to shift the narrative. We’re going for everyone else. The target’s not on our back — we have a red dot on everyone else.”
Despite the preseason No. 1 ranking, Texas opens as underdogs against Ohio State. BetMGM opened the Longhorns as 2.5-point underdogs, making this the first instance since at least 1978 of a top-ranked team going into its opening game as an underdog, according to ESPN’s historical note.
Ohio State holds the No. 2 spot in the Coaches Poll. Manning threw for 61 completions on 90 attempts last season, totaling nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He saw action in Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl win over the Longhorns, carrying the ball eight yards on one rushing attempt.
Ohio State has named Alabama transfer and former five-star prospect Julian Sayin as its starting quarterback after a late offseason battle. The matchup sets up as a marquee test for Manning and a Texas offense that will look to translate last season’s moments into a strong start against a top-tier opponent on the road.
Outlook: The Longhorns’ confidence and Manning’s leadership will be tested in a high-profile, early-season showdown. A successful opener could establish Texas as a bold contender in 2025, while a tough road trip at Columbus will be a clear gauge of how far the program has come since last season’s chapter.
Summary: Arch Manning reframes Texas as the hunter as the No. 1 Longhorns head to Ohio Stadium for a pivotal season opener, with the team facing questions about odds, quarterback play, and the challenge of starting atop the rankings on the road against a ranked Ohio State squad led by starting QB Julian Sayin.
What to watch:
– Manning’s performance and rhythm against a defending top-tier program.
– How Texas handles the road environment and the Buckeyes’ tempo.
– The impact of Sayin’s presence for Ohio State and how it translates to the game plan.
– Whether Texas can live up to expectations with a bold, confident start.
Note: This rewrite emphasizes the key developments and adds context for readers while keeping to verified facts from the original report. If you’d like, I can add a short, reader-friendly sidebar with quick stats and a game-day prediction based on current trends.