If you’re not hyped for college football’s opening weekend, you’re in the wrong sport because Ohio State vs. Texas is as big as it gets. We’re talking two powerhouse programs, two elite head coaches, and two teams with something to prove. Buckeyes vs. Longhorns under the lights at The Shoe? That’s not just a season opener, it’s probably a potential playoff preview. And no one is feeling the weight of that more than the Buckeyes’ HC Ryan Day.

Ohio State’s head coach has been on a mission even after winning the national championship last season against beating Notre Dame (34:23). After a 14-2 campaign in 2024, Day is once again reloaded with one of the most talented rosters in the country. He is making sure his team and fans are locked in well before kickoff. It’s no secret the Buckeyes have a tough start ahead, and their head coach isn’t letting anyone take this lightly or save their intensity for the last minute.

Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors noted on X that “When asked if he’s [Ryan Day is] sleeping better after Ohio State’s national championship,” Day simply replied with a “No” before breaking into laughter. Speaking about the season opener against Texas, Day also shared, “If we didn’t open up with Texas, maybe. If you want to take a deep breath, I mean, the first game is a monster, right out of the gate.” Being aware of the pressure that comes with the matchup, he added. “I’ll just say this: We’re excited about playing in that game. I know Buckeye Nation is fired up. It’s gonna be an unbelievable atmosphere. … We need the Shoe rocking, just like it was for the Indiana game. Just like it was for the Penn State game a couple of years ago.”

Day was clear on the game plan, too: “(Texas) can’t get away with the clap. We’ve got to bring it and put them on a silent cadence. It’s gotta be the loudest it’s ever been. We’re playing that game right now, every single moment.”

Texas enters 2025 as the No. 1 team in the country while the Buckeyes are standing at the No. 3 spot. The biggest threatening thing to the Longhorns is their star QB, Arch Manning, this season. He has been the talk of the town and is also one of the favourites for the Heisman trophy. On the other hand, the starting QB for Ryan Day’s program is yet to be settled.

Quarterback question mark looms over Ryan Day’s offense

While the defense looks ready to cause problems for anyone, the quarterback race between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz continues to hover like a storm cloud. Star WR Jeremiah Smith didn’t seem fazed in July, telling media, “It really doesn’t matter who is the quarterback.” But inside the locker room, there’s growing urgency to make a call.

The rotation between Sayin and Kienholz hasn’t made things easy during camp. There’s no time to build chemistry when reps keep switching, and it’s starting to show. According to Bucknuts insider JBook, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate said on the Big Ten Network. “When the offense keeps rotating the QBs in Sayin and Kienholz, it makes it hard for the offense to get going and put drives together in practice. Whoever they choose will do well,” he said.

Right now, Sayin looks like the likely starter, but Ryan Day hasn’t confirmed it. He hinted a few weeks back that a decision would come soon, yet as of now, he’s kept everything under wraps. Maybe it’s gamesmanship ahead of a high-stakes opener. Maybe it’s true competition. Either way, with No. 1 Texas coming to town, there’s no more time for guesswork. But whoever gets the nod needs to own it and carry where Will Howard left off last season.