Category: News Now

College Football Week 4 Big Ten; Be a Winner for Just $3.50!

September 17, 2025

Good afternoon!  It’s Wednesday, and we’re two days away from the official start to Week 4 of the college football season.  The Iowa Hawkeyes and the  Rutgers Scarlett Knights play Friday night at 8 o’clock, and the rest of the games will be played throughout the day and night on Saturday.

The Big Ten Week 4 Preview has already been posted, and at the end of the preview, I gave you my predictions  for who will win each game, but a lot of people are wondering about my predictions when it comes to the points.

This year, I’m doing it differently.  The Week 4 Big Ten Predictions versus the point spread is separate.  If you’re interested in my predictions for the games featured in the Big Ten Week 4 Preview, then you have to email me.

Noonooz@noozbuffet.com

The cost this week is $3.50, and my Week 4 picks versus the points will be available Friday morning, September 19th. 

Last week, I was 12-1 picking winners straight up and 6-4-1 picking winners against the points.

I’m a winner, and now you can be too for just $3.50.

It’s Our Annual Anniversary Celebration!

September 16, 2025

Well, we’re five days early, but what the hell. The staff here at Nooz Buffet works so darn hard, and we only celebrate twice per year, the New Year and our anniversary.

On September 20th in 2018, I was sitting on my couch watching daytime television with my laptop next to me. As I was surfing the internet, I saw something called WordPress, and that was pretty much it. Nooz Buffet was born the following day on September 21, 2018.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

In five days on Sunday, September 21st, we reach a time of transition. It’s an ending and a bright new beginning for us as year seven comes to a close and year eight begins, and I would personally like to thank all of you.

Specifically, I would like to thank everyone who purchased my Astrological Analysis, I would like to thank everyone who made donations, my loyal followers, fans, friends, and yes, even the haters. In seven years, I’ve written and published 1,500 articles totaling 592,000 words!

Just to put that in perspective, that’s a yearly average of 84,571 words, which is equivalent to writing like one 400-page book per year for seven years, and I could’ve never done without all of you. Thank you. I appreciate you, and I love you.

Photo by Boys in Bristol Photography on Pexels.com

College Football Week 4; Big Ten Preview & Predictions

September 16, 2025

Friday, September 19th

8:00 P.M.

Iowa (2-1) at Rutgers (3-0)

This is the moment the Scarlett Knights have been waiting for. Their plan was to blow through the first three games of the season (although Ohio made it interesting) and be 3-0 for the Week 4 Big Ten match up at home against the Hawkeyes. So far so good-everything has played out exactly the way they hoped it would. Rutgers capped off that three-game-run with a 60-10 win over Norfolk State last week. Quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis completed 18 of 26 passes for 309 yards and 1 touchdown. Sophomore running back, Antwan Raymond, carried the rock 16 times for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. Norfolk State was forced to punt the ball 7 times, and they were 2 of 10 on third downs. It was an impressive and a dominant win over an opponent they were supposed to dominate.

Iowa is 2-1 overall right now after crushing Umass last week, 47-7. The Hawkeyes only loss so far was a 3-point game against a very good and nationally ranked Iowa State team. Iowa was tested, and they fell short, but they’re a better team now because of it. Last week, Umass wasn’t able to convert a single third down, and the Hawkeye defense held them to just 119 yards of total offense.

This week, the Rutgers offense will be challenged. Iowa has always been known for tough defense, and this season is no different. Iowa’s quarterback, Mark Gronowski, still hasn’t reached a level of play Iowa fans are comfortable with, and the Hawkeyes are banged up at running back. With questionable quarterback play and an injury riddled backfield, it appears as if the Hawkeyes are going to have to dig deep to get some points on the board this week. Rutgers, on the other hand, hasn’t had any problems scoring, but they haven’t met an Iowa caliber defense. This is going to be a close game.

Saturday, September 20th

12:00 Noon

Maryland (3-0) at Wisconsin (2-1)

Wins against Florida Atlantic, Northern Illinois, and Towson have the Terrapins quietly sitting at 3-0, but if they want to be taken seriously, they’re going to have to win this weekend in Camp Randall Stadium. Last week, Maryland’s offense scored 44 points, and their defense held Towson to just 51 rushing yards.

After starting this season with two consecutive wins, the Badgers lost on the road to nationally ranked Alabama, 38-14. Quarterback, Danny O’Neill, threw two interceptions while three running backs combined failed to rush for 100 yards.

Wisconsin is home this weekend, and Camp Randall has always been a difficult place for opposing teams to steal a win. The Badgers, hopefully, learned a thing or two about themselves during last week’s humbling loss to Bama. Mayland is hot, and they’re playing with confidence, but Maryland is another one of those undefeated/untested teams. I expect Wisconsin to get more production out of their offense this week and cut Maryland’s winning streak short at three games.

3:00 P.M.

Oregon State (0-3) at (6) Oregon (3-0)

The Oregon State Beavers are only one of two teams left in the PAC-12, but right now, they’re 0-3 in nonconference games. The goal this week is to stop the bleeding, but who knows if that’s even going to be possible on the road against sixth ranked Oregon. Hey, at least we know where the Beavers stand, and you can’t say they haven’t been tested. If anyone has been tested, it’s Oregon State. They opened their season against Cal, who by the way is still undefeated and getting better every week, then it was Fresno State, and last week, they played Texas Tech who was undefeated and nationally ranked. The Beavers are 0-3, but they have nothing to lose.

The Oregon Ducks are 3-0, but I think they actually fell two places in the AP Top 25 rankings after a 34-14 win against conference foe, Northwestern. Oregon has yet to be tested, and honestly, Northwestern was probably the toughest team they faced all season.

THIS IS A TRAP GAME for the Ducks. They’re 3-0, and believe me, with a road game next week against Penn State, it’s going to be way too easy for them to overlook and underestimate the winless Beavers. I think Oregon will pick up their fourth win, but this game could end up being closer than anyone predicted.

3:30 P.M.

(21) Michigan (2-1) at Nebraska (3-0)

Nebraska is 3-0, and if they can beat Michigan this week, we might see them in the Top 25 next week. Last week, the Cornhuskers beat Houston Christian 59-7, but who is Houston Christian?

Michigan rebounded with a 63-3 win over Central Michigan last week. The Wolverines opened up at home with a win against New Mexico, and then, they lost on the road to nationally ranked Oklahoma, 24-13. Michigan needs this win bad. Two loses by the fourth week of the season is hard to come back from.

Nebraska quarterback, Dylan Raiola, is only a sophomore, but he’s having a good season so far. In three games; he’s completing 76% of his passes, that’s 72 completions out of 94 attempts, and he has thrown for 830 yards and 8 touchdowns with zero interceptions! Not bad. Do you want to hear a crazy stat? Nebraska’s defense held each team they played to just 69 or fewer total passing yards. On paper, Nebraska looks unbelievable, but we’ll see how Michigan feels about all that this week.

Purdue (2-1) at (24) Notre Dame (0-2)

Man, I swear to God, college football loves and favors Notre Dame. How is Notre Dame ranked #24 nationally without any wins? Will this be the week? That’s the big question here. Will Notre Dame finally win a game in 2025? In their first game, the Fighting Irish lost to Miami, 27-24, and they lost to Texas A&M last week, 41-40. Texas A&M and Miami are both undefeated, and they’re both ranked nationally.

Purdue is 2-1, and I know they lost to USC last week, but they’re not that bad. Their defense looked good last week against the Trojans. If Purdue expects to beat Notre Dame this week, two things need to happen. They need another great effort from their defense, and their offense needs to cut down on mistakes. I don’t know if that will be enough, but it will definitely put them in position to win this game. Notre Dame is still dangerous, but Purdue has a shot.

7:30 P.M.

(9) Illinois (3-0) at (19) Indiana (3-0)

Well, this is the Big Ten game of the week. The Fighting Illini are 3-0 and ranked ninth nationally. Illinois beat Western Illinois, Duke, and Western Michigan University. Duke was the toughest of the three, and quarterback, Luke Altmyer, completed 22 of 31 for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns. There’s no doubt, wide receiver, Hank Beatty, is turning into Altmyer’s favorite target.

After beating Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State by 73 points, the Hoosiers are also 3-0. Running backs, Roman Hemby and Lee Beebe Jr., are both legit. Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, started this season slow, but he’s on fire now. He has 9 touchdowns passes in his last two games. Indiana’s defense is stingy, allowing an average of 7.3 points per game.

I think we all know that Illinois has a pretty good football team, but I’m not so sure how we all feel about Indiana. Both teams are undefeated, both are ranked nationally, and both teams have compiled a crap load of stats during the first three weeks, but this is where the rubber meets the road. I don’t know why, but Illinois seems a little overconfident-almost arrogant. Indiana appears to be going about their business in more humble and professional manner. I think the Hoosiers might have what it takes to upset the Fighting Illini. We shall see.

11:00 P.M.

Michigan State (3-0) at (25) USC (3-0)

It’s the Michigan State Spartans and the USC Trojans who will be playing in the last game of the day. The kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 P.M.

Michigan State beat Youngstown State 41-21 last week for their third straight win. Quarterback, Aiden Chiles, completed 22 of 29 passes for 270 yards and 1 touchdown. He also rushed for 76 yards. The Spartans have three capable running backs, and the group is led by redshirt senior, Elijah Tau-Tolliver, who rushed for 37 yards and 1 touchdown against Youngstown.

USC handed Purdue their first loss of the season. It was a 33-17 win for the Trojans, but boy oh boy, Purdue played them tough.

Quarterback, Jayden Maiava, was 17 for 28 with 282 yards, and wide receiver, Ja’ Kobi Lane caught three of those passes for 115 yards. Running back, Waymond Jordan, carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards and 1 touchdown. I know USC’s offense gets a lot of attention, but they owe last week’s win over Purdue to their defense. As a unit, they picked off 3 passes and held Purdue to just 52 rushing yards.

It’s a Big Ten showdown this week and both teams would like nothing more than to extend their winning streak to four games. If USC’s defense shows up and plays the way they did against Purdue, the Spartans are going to have an extremely difficult time.

Week 4 Big Ten Picks Straight Up

Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Illinois, USC

Week 4 Big Ten Picks Versus the Point Spread

If you would like my expert picks for all seven games featured in this week’s preview, then please email me at noonooz@noozbuffet.com.

The pick sheet is $8.00, and it will be available Friday morning. Last week, I was 6-4-1 versus the point spread. I’m a winner, and you can win too!

College Football Week 4; Big Ten Conference Schedule

September 15, 2025

After you factor in who has a bye and who’s playing an interconference game, Week 4 of the 2025 college football season has seven games scheduled featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference.

Friday, September 19th

8:00 P.M.

Iowa (2-1) @ Rutgers (3-0)

Saturday, September 20th

12:00 P.M.

Maryland (3-0) @ Wisconsin (2-1)

3:00 P.M.

Oregon State (0-3) @ (6)Oregon (3-0)

3:30 P.M.

(21) Michigan (2-1) @ Nebraska (3-0)

Purdue (2-1) @ (24) Notre Dame (0-2)

7:30 P.M.

(9) Illinois (3-0) @ (19) Indiana (3-0)

11:00 P.M.

Michigan State (3-0) @ (25) USC (3-0)

Bye week: Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Washington, UCLA, North Western

College Football Week 3 Results

September 15, 2025

Hello everyone, this is the fun part!  It’s Monday morning, and Week 3 is in the books, so let’s see how we did.

College Football Week 3

Big Ten Conference Picks Versus the Point Spread

  1. Indiana State at (22) Indiana (Indiana State -48.5) LOSS
  2. UCLA at New Mexico (UCLA -14.5) LOSS
  3. Central Michigan at Michigan (Michigan -27.5)  WIN
  4. Towson at Maryland DNP
  5. Houston Christian at Nebraska. DNP
  6. (4) Oregon at Northwestern (Northwestern +27.5) WIN
  7. Wisconsin at (19) Alabama (Wisconsin +21)  WIN
  8. Youngstown State at Michigan State  DNP
  9. Villanova at (2) Penn State (Penn State -47.5)  LOSS
  10. USC at Purdue (Purdue +21)  WIN
  11. Norfolk State at Rutgers  DNP
  12. Ohio at (1) Ohio State (Ohio State -28)  PUSH
  13. Western Michigan at (9) Illinois (Illinois -27.5)  WIN
  14. UMASS at Iowa (Iowa -35.5)  WIN
  15. Minnesota at Cal (Minnesota -1.5)  LOSS

Out of the fifteen games this weekend featuring teams from the Big Ten College Football Conference, I picked for eleven of them.

Week 3 Record Versus the Point Spread:  6-4-1

Wins 6

Losses 4

Push 1

Big Ten Conference Picks Straight Up

Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, Alabama, Michigan State, Penn State, USC, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota

Week 3 Record for Straight Up Picks

12-1

For our first week picking games versus the point spread, that wasn’t bad at all!

Moon Scope, Full Moon in Pisces Brings the Mysterious to Light

September 6, 2025

On Sunday, September 7th, at 12:47 in the morning, the moon will be full in Pisces in the Ninth House.

I just published an article here on N.B. on the 2nd titled, “A Special Alignment for Tomorrow.”  The alignment was the Mars conjunction with the Midheaven in Libra and the angles it formed to the Moon’s Nodal Axis.  At the end of the article, I wrote, “Now is not the time to give up.  It’s time to go within.”

Pisces is the last sign of our zodiac, and of course, Pisces rules the Twelfth House, but despite its house position, Pisces always carries with it, an aura of mystery.

The reason for why that is happens to be a natural one.  Whenever something is at the end, there’s always uncertainty and a mysterious nature surrounding it because no one knows what’s coming next.

If you felt these last two weeks starting from the time of the new moon, have been difficult, trying, and tough, well, I share that feeling with you.  It has been difficult, but when this current lunar cycle culminates and the moon is illuminated at 100%, the light of the moon will finally penetrate the surface of these Piscean waters. 

I hope you didn’t give up because it’s time to go within, and that’s what the universe is supporting now.  And, how unbelievably fitting it is to not only have the full moon Pisces, but in the Ninth House as well.

Whenever things get tough and we begin to feel the pushback or the resistance, our first thought is always to give up or to change what we’re doing, but when you truly believe in something or what it is that you’re doing or working on, you’re not going to give up so easily.

You’re going to meet the resistance head on, you’re going to give it your best effort, and if your best effort isn’t good enough, you’re going to question yourself and perhaps, your preparation.  That’s exactly where we’re at right now, and the Ninth House is the place of long journeys.

Long journey doesn’t necessarily mean traveling.  It could be a spiritual journey or a difficult project that takes a lot of time and effort.   It could be something you started, like a diet or a weight training routine that you hope at some point, yields visible results.

The Ninth House is that long journey, and it governs things that are worth having because they’re not easily attainable.

At the time of this full moon, we’re finally going to get some of the answers we’ve been looking for, and probably, some we weren’t expecting, but the point is that the way forward is going to become clear. 

When I look at the chart, I can see the opposition is coming from an authority figure or someone in a position of power.  It could also be a male figure like a husband or father.

Someone has definitely been talking about us, and it might not have been so nice.  This could mean they’ve been lying either to us directly about something or about us to someone else.  Lies and rumors that are told and spread about us behind our backs can not only be damaging to us and what we’re trying to accomplish, but they can definitely make things confusing. 

This is why things have felt so tough and so hard for the past two weeks.  The square between the Moon and Uranus in Gemini in the Twelfth House of Secret Enemies absolutely validates and confirms what I just said.

So, again, it’s time to go within.  Don’t be afraid to spend some time alone or maybe some time in total isolation.  Be careful with who you’re sharing your business with. 

From now until the time of the new moon, it would be smart to tighten up your circle, and I would keep any future plans or ideas you might have to yourself.

For those of us who are standing on truth and trying to carve out an authentic path for ourselves while remaining absolutely true to who we are, the way forward is going to be difficult and you’re always going to be met with resistance because you’re dealing with people who are asleep.

When people are asleep and unaware of what they’re doing, evil can work through them, and that’s why Jesus asked his father to forgive them.  They knew not.

Today, things haven’t really changed, so you must be aware and take extra precautions. 

Okay, beloved.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

It’s a Rivalry! Iowa at Iowa State

September 4, 2025

This is a big-time rivalry game that will be played at Jack Trice Stadium.  The kickoff is scheduled for 12 o’clock noon on Saturday, September 6th.

Iowa began their 2025 campaign with an impressive 34-7 win over Albany, and I think Albany turned out to be way more physical than a lot of people expected.  To Iowa’s credit, they played tough, and they were actually losing that game 7-3 in the second quarter, but in the end, they won by 27.

Iowa State shocked everyone (but not me) with a Week 0 upset over the Kansas State Wildcats, and they came back and blew out South Dakota, 55-7, in Week 1.  Currently, the Cyclones are 2-0, and they’ve quietly repositioned themselves at number 16 nationally.

Conclusion & Predictions

I don’t know how much it’s going to help, but Iowa State is home for this game.  Traditionally, Iowa is known for their Big Ten brand of football, which is tough defense and the ability to run the football.  So far, they haven’t disappointed.  They held Albany to seven points and 43 yards rushing, and offensively, Iowa has a double threat coming out of the backfield. 

Xavier Williams had 122 yards on 11 carries and 1 touchdown, and teammate Terrell Washington Jr. carried the rock 15 times for 69 yards.  That’s 4.6 yards per carry for Washington, and both backs are the reason why the Hawkeyes were able to hold on the ball for almost thirty-seven minutes.

Against South Dakota, it was another brilliant performance by Rocco Becht and the boys.  Becht completed 19 of 20 passes for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Wide receiver, Brett Eskildsen, caught a beautiful pass for 61 yards right down the middle of the field to open the game.  Eskildsen finished with 2 catches for 77 yards.  Tight ends, Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle accounted for three touchdowns, and out of the backfield, it was a new face this week.

Freshman running back, Dylan Lee,  carried the ball 13 times for 81 yards and 1 touchdown.  Lee is a big back, 6’1″ and 215 pounds, and what Iowa State proved last week is that they have quality when it comes to depth at the running back position.  Abu Sama and Carson “Um Bop” Hansen got some rest.  Nice.

You know, Albany held Iowa to 44 yards passing.  Mark Gronowski completed 8 of 15 passes for 44 yards and 1 touchdown.

Even with Washington and Williams running the ball, the Hawkeyes will need more production from their passing game.  If not, Iowa is gonna see eight guys in the box all day. 

I do believe Iowa State is one of the hottest teams in college football right now.  They’re healthy, they’re home this week, and they were able to rest some of their starters against South Dakota.

Having said that, Iowa is going to test Iowa State in ways they haven’t been tested all season, but specifically, this is the toughness test for the Cyclones.  After Week 2, we’ll know for certain how real this Iowa State team is.  I think the Cyclones win this by 7.

My Prediction Straight Up: Iowa State

My Prediction Versus the Spread: Iowa State -3.5

A Special Alignment for Tomorrow, September 2nd

September 1, 2025

Tomorrow at approximately 3:11 p.m., Mars in Libra will conjoin the Midheaven on the 17th degree.  Mars will then form a semi-sextile to the Moon’s South Node, which will be on the 18th degree of Virgo in the Ninth House, and a quincunx to the Moon’s North Node on the 18th degree of Pisces in the Third House.

My Interpretation

There’s a connection between our career and our reputation with the public.  Mars is the sacred warrior, the emotionally driven leader who is courageous enough to step out of his comfort zone and be pioneering.

In the sign of Libra and in the Tenth House, Mars is polished and intelligent in his approach to creating harmony and establishing balance within our careers or with whatever we do for a living.

Justice and truth are also connected to Libra, so there’s some type of balancing that needs to be done when it comes to being seen or perceived by the public.  It’s almost like the real you has been hidden or absent, and that made it easy for people to form opinions about you that were false and based on lies and they ended up spreading like wild fire.

And, what about destiny?  If you were born with a special purpose, perhaps it’s time for you to get on the destiny path.  It’s crazy to assume this, but not everyone is meant to live a “normal” life.  It’s not often, but special people do grace us with their presence once in a while.  If that’s you, and that’s what you’ve awakened to, then it’s time to start believing in yourself.

Mars conjunct the Midheaven in Libra would certainly indicate disruptions, fighting, and arguing within relationships either at work with coworkers or with loved ones at home about your work and your reputation, or your reputation with the public in general.

Maybe you’re fighting and arguing to defend yourself or to convince people that you’re not what they think of you, but it’s hard changing the perceptions and the personal narratives people have of us.

It seems like no matter how much we change or how much we improve, they can’t seem to shake or get over the mistakes we’ve made in the past.  If that is the case, what is fighting going to solve?

No, I don’t think Mars needs to fight now.  I think he needs to express himself through Libra, and that’s someone who’s smart, someone who’s able to express himself and communicate effectively, and someone who not only understands the importance of relationships, but one who knows he truly needs the other.

The semisextile to the Moon’s South Node in Virgo in the Ninth House favors research and the gathering of materials that can provide us with truth and cold hard facts.  The Ninth House is also a very religious house, and while we may not need to go to war with religious institutions, we may need to probe for certain information.  Nothing is going to come easy because, for one, the Ninth House is the house of long journeys, and two, Virgo is perfect, or at least she thinks she is.

Again, you can’t argue with someone who refuses to take responsibility for their actions or someone who can never admit when they’re wrong, made a mistake, or are at fault. 

Establish a relationship, and through that relationship, you can at least learn or gain important information.

The quincunx connecting Mars to the North Node in Pisces in the Third House can help Mars see a different side of life if Mars is willing to be compassionate, but it’s really about helping you to believe in yourself.

Pisces in the Third House makes for a very wishy washy and confusing situation.  A lot of things are unclear, which is really what seems to be the problem.

This requires you to dig deep into that Mars archetype and pull out some assertiveness.  Mars will need to use his sword to cut down the blockages, the deceptions, and all the illusions, and when the picture becomes clear, obviously, he’ll need to make a decision.

However, there are no real answers, only a reliance in faith.  Trust yourself, and believe that everything is going to work out in your favor.

There could be feelings of depression, sadness, or like the end is near because that’s what can manifest through Pisces, but know that life will go on with or without you. Now is not the time to give up.  It’s time to go deep within. 

The North Node in the Third House is telling you the answer is the neighborhood, not the grand stage.  It’s the family and not the large audience. 

One thing must be brought to a conclusion before the other thing can begin. With Pisces in the Third House and Aries occupying part of the Third House and the Fourth House, something at home could be coming to an end.

Ultimately, it’s another fresh start.

Showdown; It’s the Longhorns and the Buckeyes

August 29, 2025

The last meeting between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes was during the semifinal round of the 2024 college football playoffs in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Ohio State beat Texas and went on to beat Notre Dame in the National Championship game.

Texas finished their season at 13-3, and Ohio State 14-2, but all that is old news. This is a new year, a new season, and neither team is exactly the same.

(1) Texas at (3) Ohio State 
Saturday, August 30th at 12 noon

Ohio State Buckeyes

The 2025 Ohio State team features two 1st Team All-Americans, sophomore wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith, and junior free safety, Caleb Downs. Junior wide receiver, Carnell Tate, and senior linebacker, Sonny Styles earned 2nd Team honors.

I suppose we should address the elephant in the room first. Quarterback, Julian Sayin, originally signed with Alabama, but he transferred to OSU in January of 2024. They say he’s a true sophomore with four years of eligibility, which at the end of the day, means he’s young, he lacks experience, and he’s unproven. Big question mark at the quarterback position.

I know Coach Day would love to coddle Sayin and allow him to gain experience slowly while at the same time building his confidence, but I don’t see how that’s going to be possible with two All-Americans at the wide receiver position.

How about All-Big Ten tight end, Max Klare? Klare came to Ohio State from Purdue, and he’s a tall guy at 6’5″ with good hands. The point that I’m making is that the Buckeyes have guys who can catch the ball, and at some point, the pressure is going to be on Sayin to deliver.

Perhaps, I’d feel a little differently if TreVeyon Henderson was in the backfield, but sophomore, James Peoples, is another young guy who’s still unproven. If Ohio State can’t run the ball, Sayin will get thrown to the wolves, but who knows, maybe he can handle it.

On the o-line, the Buckeyes look good from guard to guard. Right now, their tackles are questionable, but in general, I don’t see the offensive line as a weakness.

Defensively, second team All-American, Sonny Styles is a converted linebacker from the safety position, but he is the center of that defense. He’s big, 6’5″ and 245 pounds, and he’s athletic and fast. Junior, Arvell Reese, lines up next to Styles. Reese is another big guy, 6’4″ and 245 pounds, and they expect him to have a monster season this year. The backup senior, C.J. Hicks, I think is getting reps at defensive end. That’s a good move to improve the overall speed of the defense.

In the defensive backfield, Ohio State figures to be strong at the corners with Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. Safety, Caleb Downs, well, they say he could be the number 1 defensive player in America!

Their defensive line is a question mark.

Texas Longhorns

The 2025 Texas Longhorns feature two All-Americans on offense, quarterback, Arch Manning (1st team), and tight end, Jack Endries (2nd team).

Arch Manning is a sophomore, but this will be his first year starting for the Longhorns. Manning’s teammates and coaches seem to think he’s going to step right in and do an amazing job. There’s even talks about Manning entering the NFL draft after next season, so even though he’s unproven just like Sayin is for Ohio State, the situation in Texas seems to be a little different than that in Columbus.

Senior right guard, DJ Campbell, is the only returning starter on the o-line, but there’s continuity between Manning and his entire line.

It looks like returning junior, Quintrevion Wisner, will start at running back. Last season, Wisner rushed for over 1,000 yards. You see, this is what I was talking about with Julian Sayin. Sayin doesn’t have a retuning thousand-yard rusher lining up behind him. Not only can Wisner run the rock, but he provides an extra layer of support that can take some of the pressure of Manning to have to push the ball downfield. It makes for a more relaxing situation.

At wide receiver, it’s going to be returning starter, Deandre Moore Jr., Ryan Wingo (in my Dale Gribble voice), and Stanford transfer, Emmett Mosley.

Defensively, Texas is going to be tough. All-American junior, Anthony Hill Jr., is arguably the best linebacker in the country. He has All-American teammate, Colin Simmons, lining up in front of him at defensive end, but the Longhorns have several guys on the defensive line who can get after the quarterback and stuff the run.

Texas has a pair of All-Americans in the defensive backfield, cornerback, Malik Muhammad, and safety, Michael Taaffee. On the other side at cornerback, it’s going to be the returning senior, Jaylon Guilbeau.

Conclusion and Predictions 

I've been an Ohio State fan since the days of Eddie George and Orlando Pace, so I don't want personal feelings to get in the way here.  

When I look at these two teams, I see two completely different teams than we saw at the end of last season.  I think Texas lost 14 guys, and I think Ohio State lost 12.  So, it's really about who was more effective at reloading and filling gaps.

All things considered, it kills me to say this, but on paper, I feel like Texas is the better team.  I'm not taking anything away from Julian Sayin, but Arch Manning has the luxury of having a 1,000-yard rusher behind him.  That alone, gives Texas the edge offensively.
  
Yes, the Buckeyes have absolute beasts at wide receiver, but what good are they if Sayin is running for his life from a relentless Longhorn pass rush? 

Okay, the Buckeyes have a young quarterback, things can't be all that bad, right?  Well, we shall see.  Will James Peoples be able to run the ball against that Longhorn defensive front with Anthony Hill Jr. behind it?  

Ohio State is home, and it's hard to beat Ohio State in Columbus, but if anyone can do it, it's Texas.  It's the first game of the season for both teams, and both teams need to establish their own 2025 brand.  
I don't know, this is a tough one, but I just can't go against the Buckeyes at home until they've given me a reason to.

My Pick Straight Up: Ohio State

My Pick Versus the Point Spread: Ohio State -1.5