Ryan Day gave his top-ranked Buckeyes just 15 minutes to celebrate their 56-3 season-opening win over Ball State. "The minute we [left] the locker room, it's on to Texas," Day said after the game. Day called Ohio State's trip to No. 5 Texas next weekend a "monster game," adding that his program's entire offseason and preseason was "designed around" winning big matchups on the road. Ohio State previously defeated Texas in the 2024 playoff quarterfinal en route to the national championship, and beat them 14-7 last season.

Day praised Texas as "a great opponent" with "really good talent across the board." The Buckeyes led 28-3 at halftime, resting many starters. Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns, surpassing Marvin Harrison Jr. for seventh in school history with 2,709 career receiving yards and breaking a tie with Cris Carter for fifth place with 28th and 29th career touchdown catches. Day said they "decided to hold him in the second half, which, for Jeremiah, he understands what's coming." Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns before being pulled early in the third quarter.

Sayin admitted the team has been "thinking all summer" about the Texas matchup, saying "It's full throttle on to Texas" and "we can't wait for the matchup.".