It’s one of the most iconic non-conference matchups in college football history — and the latest episode of the Buckeye Talk Podcast dives deep into the last time Ohio State hosted the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium.
We’re talking big names, prime-time hype, national title implications, and a game that still stings (or shines) depending on your colors.
Let’s take a trip back to September 10, 2005, when the Texas Longhorns marched into the Horseshoe under the lights and left with a season-defining win — and how that night helped shape college football for years to come.
🏟️ THE SETTING: NIGHT GAME IN THE SHOE — NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The Buckeye Talk crew opens the episode with the atmosphere: over 105,000 fans, national prime-time ABC coverage, and two top-5 teams meeting early in the season.
- No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Texas
- Lights on. Stakes high. Legends everywhere.
- It was only the second time the two programs had ever met.
Doug Lesmerises calls it:
“A night that felt bigger than a bowl game. You knew whoever won that game would probably play for a national title.”
🧠 THE QUARTERBACK CONUNDRUM
One of the podcast’s biggest talking points? Ohio State’s quarterback rotation.
Jim Tressel alternated between:
- Troy Smith — the dual-threat future Heisman winner
- Justin Zwick — the traditional pocket passer
The hosts argue this indecision cost Ohio State the game, especially against a Texas team led by a red-hot Vince Young, who would go on to become a national championship hero just months later.
Nathan Baird on the QB carousel:
“Ohio State didn’t know what they wanted to be. Texas knew exactly who they were — and who their quarterback was.”
💥 KEY MOMENTS THAT DEFINED THE GAME
The Buckeye Talk team relives the most pivotal moments of that 2005 battle:
- A.J. Hawk’s dominant defensive performance, keeping Vince Young in check — for most of the game.
- Missed opportunities by OSU in the red zone — settling for field goals instead of touchdowns.
- A crucial late-game fumble and a safety that sealed Ohio State’s fate.
- Texas 25, Ohio State 22 — a stunner in the Shoe.
And of course, Vince Young’s brilliance late in the fourth quarter, as he led Texas on a gutsy game-winning drive.
🔮 THE AFTERMATH: WHAT THAT GAME MEANT
The hosts reflect on how that single night shaped the college football landscape:
- Texas went on to finish 13-0, defeating USC in one of the greatest national title games ever.
- Ohio State recovered, but the quarterback indecision lingered, and they ultimately fell short of championship contention.
- The loss taught Jim Tressel and OSU valuable lessons about trust and identity, paving the way for Troy Smith’s full emergence in 2006.
Stephen Means:
“You could argue that loss made the 2006 team better. They learned from it. They got serious. And they built an offense around one guy.”
💭 FAN MEMORIES: JOY FOR TEXAS, HEARTBREAK FOR OHIO
The podcast also features fan voicemails and social media reactions from people who were in the stadium that night:
- One OSU fan: “Loudest crowd I’ve ever been a part of — until the fourth quarter.”
- A Texas fan: “We knew we had something special in Vince. That was the night the world found out too.”
It wasn’t just a game — it was a college football classic, and Buckeye Talk gives it the full treatment.
🗣️ FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THE HOSTS
Doug Lesmerises:
“This was Ohio State’s moment to take over college football — and Texas beat them to it.”
Stephen Means:
“If you were there, you remember. If you weren’t, go watch the film. That was what college football used to be.”
Nathan Baird:
“We’ll get a rematch one day. And when we do — expect fireworks.”
🧨 LOOKING AHEAD: A FUTURE REMATCH?
As Texas joins the SEC and CFP expansion reshapes the sport, the podcast ends with this:
“Don’t be surprised if the Buckeyes and Longhorns meet again — maybe in a playoff, maybe in the Shoe. And this time, Ohio State won’t rotate QBs.”
Until then, fans will keep reliving that night in Columbus — the electricity, the heartbreak, and the unforgettable clash of two college football bluebloods.
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