Blockbuster breakdown: 4 things to watch in Texas-Ohio State

Schools and conferences have made a concerted effort in recent years to fill the Week 1 slate with blockbuster matchups. Even so, my God, did the schedule-maker cook this time.

This weekend's main dish is a national semifinal rematch in Columbus between No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State. It's one of the most anticipated season openers we can recall as the Longhorns look to hand the Buckeyes their second home-opener loss since 1978.

Here are four things to watch when the teams face off Saturday.

Arch Manning on the big stage

The latest prodigy from the royal family of quarterbacking got his feet wet last year with multiple starts during Quinn Ewers' injury absence. However, playing on the road against the defending national champions might as well be a different sport than facing Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State at home.

Sure, the Buckeyes lost a number of key defenders from last year, but the Ohio State recruiting machine will just spit out more five-star prospects to fill those roles. There's no tougher test in the country to start a season than the one facing Manning and Texas. However, his demeanor suggests he's far from fazed. Perhaps that's the benefit of getting a tip or two from his uncles about hostile road environments.

Manning might have to live up to the hype immediately if the Longhorns are going to get this road win. While he's a polished passer, what sets Arch apart from his uncles is his ability to run when things break down. He'll need it with four new starters on the offensive line Saturday.

Wait, who's Ohio State's DC?

Hint: He traditionally has a pencil behind his ear on the sidelines even if his play sheet is laminated. That's right, former Detroit Lions coach and longtime Patriots assistant Matt Patricia is the new defensive coordinator for Ohio State after Jim Knowles left for Penn State. It's a bit of a curious choice by the Buckeyes considering Arch Manning hadn't been born the last time Patricia had a college job. However, a 20-plus-year career in the NFL - mostly spent alongside Bill Belichick - has given Patricia an extensive knowledge base.

He doesn't have the luxury of easing into things at the collegiate level, as arguably the nation's top offensive play-caller will be on the other sideline. How Steve Sarkisian attempts to attack Patricia - and a defense that lost 8 of 11 starters from last season - will be a fascinating chess match.

Sayin's 1st start

With all the attention on Arch heading into Saturday, it's somehow flown under the radar that the defending national champions have a new quarterback making his first career start. It's Julian Sayin time in Columbus as the former five-star recruit takes over for Will Howard. The talent is there - you don't get signed by Alabama and transfer to Ohio State without it - but Sayin faces a steep learning curve against a ferocious Texas defense.

But Sayin isn't exactly bringing a knife to a gun fight; he's got the best weapon in college football in star wideout Jeremiah Smith. Add proven pass-catchers Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss to the mix and Sayin has every reason to feel confident against the Longhorns' defense.

Future pros matching up

Football isn't strictly about one-on-one battles, but some eye-popping matchups between a number of future pros could take shape Saturday.

Arch versus brilliant All-American safety Caleb Downs immediately jumps off the page. While Downs isn't "guarding" Manning, he reads the field as well as anybody in the country and could jump a route or two on the inexperienced quarterback for a game-altering pick.

Jahdae Barron is gone from the Texas secondary, so it's up to Malik Muhammad and Jaylon Guilbeau to slow down Smith and Tate in the passing attack. On the other side, breakout Longhorns receiver Ryan Wingo likely lines up against Davison Igbinosun.

In the trenches, star edge rusher Colin Simmons will look to expose a new Ohio State offensive line and make Sayin's life miserable, while the Buckeyes' host of running backs will try to avoid middle linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. all afternoon.