Urban Meyer picks Ohio State over Texas for Week 1 showdown

The defending national champions Ohio State Buckeyes will open up the regular season at home against a familiar foe — their opponents in the Cotton Bowl in January, the Texas Longhorns. It serves as the headlining act of Week 1.

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer recently picked the Buckeyes to secure victory against the Longhorns in Columbus. Despite the obvious pick, Meyer showed great respect for Texas QB Arch Manning ahead of the matchup.

“I think it’s going to be a great game,” Meyer said on the Triple Option Podcast. “And I think this, before I go on to Ohio State — Arch Manning. I’ve watched a lot of him. This is going to be a player, with that name and that background and the expectations put on him, he’s going to have to have to play great. He’s picking a tough team to play great at, in a tough environment.

“If he struggles, mark this down — there’s going to be a lot of pressure on that player. Unfair pressure, because he is a hell of a player. Is he going to win the Heisman? I mean, that’s those are big questions to ask.”

The Heisman Trophy is a lofty goal for Manning, who is going into his first season as the Texas starting quarterback. This hasn’t stopped him from becoming the odds-on favorite to with the trophy this preseason.

While much of the attention will be surrounding Manning and the expectations for him, Meyer believes Ohio State has just a impressive of a roster. One player stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

“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. That’s why they won last year.”

Meyer pointed toward new quarterback Julian Sayin, who sat behind Will Howard during last season’s national title. WR Carnell Tate is another player Meyer expects to have a breakout season on offense, calling him a “freakish athlete.”

Kickoff for Week 1’s marquee matchup is set for Aug. 30 at Noon ET live on FOX. It will be a true road matchup for Manning and company, meaning the odds are already stacked against the Longhorns.