What they're saying: Ohio State beats Texas in early-season showdown

COLUMBUS — Ohio State dominated Texas to earn a marquee early-season win in a game between two of the best teams in college football.

Lettermen Row has a roundup of what some folks around the college football ecosystem are saying about the Buckeyes huge win and what it means moving forward.

Let’s break it all down.

On3’s Ari Wasserman ranks Buckeyes No. 1

Ohio State woke up as the No. 1 team in the country, at least according to one national talking head.

On3’s Ari Wasserman has the Buckeyes at the top of the sport after their win over Texas in the Horseshoe. Here’s what Wasserman said:

“Heading into the season, we knew Ohio State lost a ton of talent from the squad that won the national title a year ago,” he wrote. “We also knew that Ohio State would still be one of the deepest and most talented teams in the sport. Against another one of those super-talented teams in Texas, Ohio State’s defense smothered the Longhorns in a huge season-opening win in Columbus. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin out-dueled Arch Manning, and it’s clear the Buckeyes are back in business.”

The Athletic’s Ralph Russo: Everyone is still chasing Ohio State

From The Athletic’s Ralph Russo:

Sayin and Ohio State put together the lone scoring drive of the first-half, an 80-yard march that included a face-mask penalty on Texas super sophomore pass rusher Colin Simmons to convert a third-and-long. West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson, one of two running backs tasked with replacing the dynamic tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, scored the game’s first touchdown on a 1-yard plunge on fourth down.

Most of the headliners from the Buckeyes’ national championship defense will be on NFL rosters to start this season. Jack Sawyer, whose scoop-and-score was the decisive play in the semifinal CFP victory against Texas in January, was among the former Ohio State stars watching from the sideline Saturday.

The next wave of Buckeyes blue-chippers appears ready to roll for new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, led by Reese, who welcomed Manning to the ’Shoe by slinging down the third-year quarterback on a second-quarter sack.

The full story is here.

Ross Dellenger, Yahoo! Sports: Arch Manning has ‘nightmare outing’

From Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger:

An unforgettable one for the Buckeyes, no doubt.

Patricia, the former Detroit Lions head coach, debuted in sizzling fashion. Texas had 79 yards at halftime and was shut out for the first three quarters of a game for the first time in a decade.

It was a Manning mess in the first half. He fired his very first pass short of an open receiver. Despite having decent offensive line blocking, he rarely attempted anything more than 5 yards downfield, missed an open touchdown and failed to get into the end zone on a fourth-and-goal sneak from the 1.

“Ultimately, not good enough,” Manning said afterward. “Obviously, you don’t want to start off the season going 0-1. They’re a good team, but I thought we beat ourselves a lot. That starts with me. I’ve got to play better for us to win.”

On3’s JD PicKell praises Buckeyes

The Athletic’s computer model loves the Buckeyes

The Athletic computer model is insanely high on Ohio State. The model gives the Buckeyes a 91-percent chance to make the College Football Playoff. It gives the Buckeyes a 35-percent chance to win the Big Ten, a 68-percent chance to earn a first-round bye in the tournament and a 20-percent chance to win the national title.

Oh, and it has the Buckeyes as the No. 1 overall seed in the CFP, facing the winner of No. 9 Miami and No. 8 Texas in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.