Insight After the Whistle: Postgame Thoughts After Ohio State's Gutsy Win Over Texas

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown catch with quarterback Julian Sayin (10) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. Ohio State won 14-7. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It was a game that lived up to its billing.

What was arguably one of the most anticipated season openers in college football history turned into a defensive slugfest, which saw the then No. 3 Buckeyes take down Arch Manning and the top-ranked Texas Longhorns 14-7 in front of a sold-out crowd in the 'Shoe.

Ohio State's performance revealed plenty about where this team stands and where it needs to grow heading into their matchup with Grambling State this weekend. Here are some key takeaways in this first-ever Insight After the Whistle:

This is a Championship Defense

If there were any doubts about whether the Buckeyes could continue to play elite defense despite Jim Knowles' departure and losing several starters from last year, Matt Patricia definitely put them to rest.

Patricia called an incredible game on Saturday. The way he was able to confuse Arch Manning with different looks in his first-ever road start proved to be the biggest difference in the game.

In his postgame press conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said the Buckeyes disguised their defensive coverages at an "elite level," which is high praise from one of the best offensive minds in college football.

It certainly helps when you have Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Igbinosun anchoring the secondary and athletic linebackers like Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, who were excellent against Texas's high-powered offense.

They played smart, disciplined football for the entire 60 minutes, and the scary thing is they're only going to get better as the season goes on.

Sayin Better than the Box Score

It was a tough ask out of Julian Sayin to go up against the No. 1 team in the country in his first collegiate start and beat them, but he did just that. His stats won't blow anybody away, but the film tells a much different story.

He showed a lot of poise in the pocket, made the right reads more often than not, and delivered precise throws when he needed to.

Let's not forget that his receivers didn't help him out in the early going, either. A fourth down drop by tight end Max Klare and two uncharacteristic drops from Jeremiah Smith stalled the offense in the first quarter.

Despite the mistakes, Sayin displayed maturity beyond his years. Like the defense, he will only continue to get better as he gets more experience.

Running Game/Play Calling Concerns

I was excited about the running game heading into the season, but the tandem of James Peoples and CJ Donaldson left a lot to be desired as they could never establish a rhythm on the ground.

While Donaldson showed some flashes of brilliance and had some tough runs, Peoples' lack of vision was a little concerning.

I am willing to cut the running backs some slack as they were going up against arguably one of the best defensive lines in the country, but it is something to keep an eye on during the rest of nonconference play.

The offensive play calling in general was pretty vanilla, which was to be expected for the first game, but even more so since the Buckeyes were usually pinned deep in their own territory. Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline gets a pass for this game.

Closing Thoughts

The Buckeyes showed why they are the defending national champions. The defense is already playing at an elite level, and Sayin proved he can be trusted as the quarterback of the future.

If the issues in the running game don't get fixed, however, their ceiling could be capped. Regardless, this looks like a team built for another deep playoff run.