Preseason No. 1 Texas Enters Opener As Underdog

Despite being ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25, the Texas Longhorns enter Week 1 as a 2.5-underdog vs. No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus. Per ESPN:

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Texas, fresh off the first No. 1 ranking in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll in program history, finds itself a 2.5-point underdog to No. 3 Ohio State for their Week 1 showdown in Columbus, according to ESPN BET lines.

Barring significant line movement, this would make the Longhorns the first top-ranked team to be an underdog in Week 1, according to ESPN Research data dating back to 1978.

The previous tightest Week 1 point spread for a No. 1 team was when Florida State lost outright as a four-point favorite at No. 8 Miami in 1988. Auburn also lost as a five-point favorite against No. 10 Miami in 1984, while Notre Dame won and covered as a five-point favorite against No. 4 Michigan in 1990.

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