‘They Can’t Lose It’ — Urban Meyer Sets Expectations Straight for Arch Manning, Julian Sayin for Texas vs. Ohio State’s Clash
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Texas star Arch Manning will face off against one of his biggest rivals for the Heisman Trophy when the Texas Longhorns host quarterback Julian Sayin’s Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 2 of college football. The marquee game will mirror last year’s fixture, when both Manning and Sayin began their debuts as their teams’ starters.
Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer clearly defined the roles that the two quarterbacks will play in winning the key matchup.
Urban Meyer Reveals Arch Manning vs. Julian Sayin’s Roles in Marquee Game
During this week’s segment of the “Triple Option” podcast, Meyer was adamant that Manning and Sayin will have the biggest roles to play in their team’s chances of winning the game.
“It’s gonna be the battle of the quarterbacks,” Meyer said. “Which quarterback, and I’m not saying they have to win it, but they can’t lose it. You know, last year, I think both coaches did an admirable job. Especially Ryan Day with Julian Sayin. First time starting against that kind of team, they did not ask him to win it. They played the game close to the vest, and I would start the game like that down there.”
He then explained his approach, saying, “And I would say, ‘Let’s pound the ball a little bit, let’s be smart. And then when it’s time to open it up, open it up.’ That might be different than what Ryan Day is thinking. I’m gonna pick the Buckeyes, but I think it’s gonna be a walk-off win for whoever wins.”
Sayin became the first quarterback since Jim Harbaugh in 1984 to beat an AP No. 1-ranked team in his first career start, leading the Buckeyes to a 14-7 win over Manning’s Longhorns in 2025. The quarterback went 13 of 20 (65%) for 126 passing yards and 1 touchdown against Texas.
He finished the season with 3,610 passing yards on 77% completion, 32 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, finishing No. 4 in the Heisman voting. This season, Sayin has a 91.8 PFN College QB Impact score (No. 3 in the country).
Manning went 17 of 30 for 170 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, adding 38 rushing yards against the Buckeyes last year. Fans criticized the Texas quarterback for his performance in Columbus, and despite recovering from a poor start to the season, Manning could not lead Texas to a College Football Playoff berth.
He finished the season with 3,163 passing yards on 61.4% completion, 26 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, adding 399 rushing yards and 10 scores. This season, Manning has a PFN College QB Impact score of 87.2 (No. 8 in the country).
Sayin and Manning are both favorites to be on the Heisman Trophy podium this season and to lead their teams to the College Football Playoff.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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