Columbus, Ohio was the epicenter of college football’s opening weekend. Not only did fans witness one of the most highly anticipated Week 1 matchups in college football history, they also paid tribute to the legendary Lee Corso, who made his final headgear pick before retiring from ESPN’s College GameDay. The city was awash in scarlet and gray, with a touch of burnt orange as Texas fans made their presence known.
One special detail made Corso’s farewell even more meaningful: Columbus is where the headgear tradition began. Back in October 1996, when GameDay was in town for Ohio State vs. Penn State, Corso asked if he could don the Brutus Buckeye mascot head to make his pick. At the time, Kirk Herbstreit’s girlfriend—now his wife—was an Ohio State cheerleader, and with a little convincing, Corso got the green light. That moment sparked what became one of the show’s most beloved traditions.
Photo Cred: Eleven Warriors
Fast forward nearly three decades, Corso stood once again in Columbus, where it all began, faced with a decision. Would his final pick be the No. 1 team in the country led by Arch Manning, or his first love—the team he picked more than any other—Ohio State? As the GameDay set rolled onto the middle of Ohio Stadium, more than 100,000 fans and millions watching at home waited for his choice. With Ohio State’s band spelling out “CORSON” across the field and the stadium roaring in scarlet, Corso put on the Brutus head one last time. The crowd erupted, celebrating not just the pick, but a man who had been the face of Saturday mornings since 1987.
After a morning of honoring Corso, it was time for No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State to settle things on the field—a rematch of last year’s Cotton Bowl semifinal, which the Buckeyes won in dramatic fashion thanks to Jack Sawyer’s late scoop-and-score. Ohio State deferred to start, giving the ball to Heisman favorite Arch Manning in his first true road start against a Power Four opponent. While both teams entered with high-powered offenses, defense quickly became the story.
Texas’ defense was expected to be elite, but all eyes were on the Buckeyes, who entered with new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and seven new starters. On the opening drive, Texas moved the ball well but was stuffed on 4th-and-2 at midfield—a tone-setting stand for Ohio State’s defense. By game’s end, the Buckeyes would stop Texas on downs four times, including two inside the 10-yard line.
The defenses traded blows until midway through the second quarter, when Ohio State pieced together a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Transfer running back CJ Donaldson capped it off with a one-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-goal. Donaldson finished his Buckeye debut with 19 carries for 67 yards and the score, giving OSU a 7–0 halftime lead.
Photo Cred: Dispatch.com
In the third quarter, Arch Manning threw an interception, and the Buckeyes extended their lead early in the fourth when quarterback Julian Sayin hit Carnell Tate for a 40-yard touchdown. Sayin, making his first major start, played with poise—completing 13-of-20 passes for 126 yards and a score. While the stats weren’t flashy, his decision-making and accuracy stood out despite some costly drops from the receiving corps.
Trailing 14–0, Texas finally showed life late in the fourth quarter when Manning connected with Parker Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown. Still, the highly touted quarterback finished a modest 17-of-30 for 170 yards and the lone score. It was a learning experience for Manning, facing a defense led by a former Super Bowl–winning NFL coordinator in a hostile road environment. Ohio State held on for the 14–7 win, running out the clock to hand Texas its first loss and secure a statement victory to open the season. Both teams are still strong playoff contenders, but for now, the Buckeyes are riding high while the Longhorns regroup.
