Mack Brown and Urban Meyer Predict the Outcome for Ohio State vs. Texas

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BACKING THEIR TEAMS. Here’s a surprise: Mack Brown picked Texas to beat Ohio State, and Urban Meyer picked Ohio State to beat Texas.

On the latest episode of The Triple Option podcast, Brown said the Longhorns will defeat the Buckeyes in the 2025 season opener for two reasons: Arch Manning and the kickoff time.

“I didn’t like that it’s the opening game for either team, especially when one loses in the (College Football Playoff) semifinals and one wins the national championship and loses its quarterback,” Brown said. “We had Louisiana-Lafayette the week before we went to Columbus and to the Shoe (in 2005), so we had a warmup and won 60-3. So we at least had the routine of getting on the bus and getting all of those new players together and Friday before the game and pregame — you’re not gonna have that. You have that young quarterback at Ohio State (Julian Sayin), and this is Arch Manning’s really big deal and it’s gonna be in front of millions of people.

“I like Texas because they’ve got Arch back and Ohio State’s inexperienced at quarterback. And I like the fact that it’s at noon for Texas. I played at 8 o’clock at night (in 2005). I don’t know how many people were sober (at Ohio Stadium), but they were cussing and screaming, and that was the loudest stadium I have ever heard in my life—”

Quick note: My parents would agree with that sentiment.

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“It was a wonderful experience, but you do not want to go to Columbus, Ohio, at night. I can promise you that. When I saw it was a noon game, I thought what a great advantage for Texas. They don’t have to sit there all day, don’t have to be nervous all day. At noon, it’s gonna be a different moment. It’s gonna be loud, but it’s not gonna be the same as it is at night.”


Meyer agreed that Manning will make a difference in the matchup, calling the third-year quarterback “a hell of a player.” However, even with Manning leading the Texas offense, Meyer said there’s one reason the Buckeyes will beat the Longhorns: Jeremiah Smith.

“They have Jeremiah Smith, the best player in college football, and I don’t think it’s really that close,” Meyer said. “You can roll up on him, you can double him, and you can slow him down. But you can’t stop him. … But they have other weapons. They’ve recruited so well at the skill positions there.”

Not to mention Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Max Klare, Carnell Tate and — well, I could name more, but I won’t.

Entering preseason camp, I like Ohio State to beat Texas. I reserve the right to change that selection up until kickoff (spoiler: I won’t), but for now, I like the Buckeyes’ coaching staff and on-field talent to deliver a win at home and kick off the 2025 season with a defining victory over a top-five team.