The showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Texas on Saturday is one of those games where all 32 NFL teams will have someone in attendance.
Look at the amount of next-level NFL talent the Buckeyes and Longhorns bring to the field. Is Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith or Texas quarterback Arch Manning the better bet to be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft? How many Buckeyes and Longhorns will be drafted in the first round?
The teams met in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 10, 2025. A total of 25 players were drafted in the ensuing 2025 NFL Draft. This game could match that output.
It’s not just 2027 either. There are some freshman playmakers that will be on the radar soon enough. Here is your guide to the absurd amount of NFL talent that will be on display at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
MORE: Predicting Ohio State-Texas and other Top 25 games
Ohio State and Texas in NFL Draft
Ohio State and Texas are tied with Georgia with 29 NFL Draft picks the last three seasons.
The Buckeyes led all schools with 14 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, which came after Ohio State won the first 12-team College Football Playoff championship. The Buckeyes also led the 2026 NFL Draft with 11 picks.
Ohio State has nine first-round picks in the last three NFL Drafts.
Texas had six NFL Draft picks in 2026 after back-to-back seasons with double-digit picks. That included 12 picks in 2025 and 11 picks in 2024. The Longhorns had seven first-round picks in the last three years.
WEEK 1 REVIEW: Overreactions | Coaching debuts | QB debuts
Ohio State vs. Texas NFL Draft picks (2024-26)
| YEAR | OHIO STATE | TEXAS |
| 2024 | 4 | 11 |
| 2025 | 14 | 12 |
| 2026 | 11 | 6 |
Ohio State vs. Texas: Top 25 prospects for 2027 NFL Draft
Here is a look at the top 25 prospects from Ohio State and Texas heading into Saturday’s matchup – including possible No. 1 picks, first-round picks and more.
2027 NFL Draft: Possible No. 1 pick
1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Smith (6-3, 223) is the top prospect on our 2027 NFL Draft Big Board – and with good reasons. He totaled 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 TDs heading into his junior season. Will he be the first receiver taken with the No. 1 pick since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996? He started the season with eight catches on nine targets for 151 yards and two TDs.
ONE-HANDED… WE ARE ALL DRAFTING JEREMIAH SMITH NEXT YEAR 🔥pic.twitter.com/j71I1OT3t6
— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) September 5, 2026
2. Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Manning (6-4, 222) remains a top quarterback prospect with a royal NFL QB bloodline – and he opened the season with 305 passing yards and four TDs against Texas State. Manning did try to fit a late throw into the end zone that resulted in an interception. The rematch against Ohio State will show how much he has developed. Manning finished 17 of 30 for 170 yards, a TD and an interception in last year’s 14-7 loss.
3. Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Simmons (6-3, 246) had 59 pressures last season – and he has 21 sacks in two seasons for the Longhorns. Simmons is an alpha leader on defense and will increase his stock in a full season with new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. He had three pressures and a fumble recovery in the season opener.
2027: First-round picks
4. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
Coleman (6-3, 204) enjoyed a strong debut with Texas with three catches for 70 yards and two TDs. Coleman gets attention for the acrobatic catches – but he’s just a professional intermediate target who can make plays in the red zone. The Auburn transfer is set for the full breakout season with Manning – and that translates into high first-round value as a top-10 pick.
Arch Manning and Cam Coleman link up again for the TD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gTRPzVwNcS
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 5, 2026
5. Trevor Goosby, T, Texas
Goosby (6-7, 324) is yet another massive tackle for Texas, and he worked through a bone bruise in fall camp. Goosby allowed three sacks last season – and one was in the Ohio State loss. He’s worked exclusively at left tackle for the Longhorns and should be an easy first-round pick there at the next level.
6. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Sayin (6-1, 208) remains the cool, efficient quarterback in Ohio State’s offense – and the 76.4% career completion percentage is proof. Sayin had 13 TDs and one interception on passes of 20 yards or more last season – and he hit Smith for a 48-yard TD pass in Week 1. Sayin produces at the same clip as the other potential first-round quarterbacks for 2027.
Possible first-round picks
7. Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas
Wingo (6-2, 214) averages 15.9 yards per catch for his career with the Longhorns – and he had a strong start with seven catches for 121 yards and a TD in the opener against Texas State. The connection with Manning is much cleaner this season to start. He had just two catches for 34 yards against the Buckeyes last season.
8. Kenyatta Jackson, EDGE, Ohio State
Jackson (6-6, 265) looked the part in the opener against Ball State with eight pressures and six hurries against the Cardinals. He’s a fifth-year player who started to click in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s defense late last season. It’s a huge year for Jackson – who had two hurries against Texas in 2025.
9. Austin Siereveld, G, Ohio State
Siereveld (6-5, 325) is a second-team SN Preseason All-America selection with solid second-day value heading into the season – and he can improve on that stick at left guard this season. Siereveld also has experience at left tackle – where he played last season. He’s a safe pick.
10. Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas
Biles (6-1, 222) – a Pitt transfer – made an impression with an interception and a forced fumble in his Texas debut in Week 1. He had 101 tackles and 17 tackles for loss at Pitt last season. Biles played at Pickerington (Ohio) Central High School with Sonny Styles and Lorenzo Styles Jr. He’s on the fringe of a first-round pick.
11. Melvin Siani, T, Texas
Siani (6-6, 316) did not allow a sack at Wake Forest last season. The Hamilton, Canada, native will start at right tackle should solidify the Longhorns’ offensive line – and a strong showing against Ohio State could push him into the first round. He allowed one pressure in the opener, according to PFF.com.
Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Texas vs. Ohio State; Rest of 2027 NFL Draft picks
12. Jelani McDonald, S, Texas
McDonald (6-2, 201) had 80 tackles and three interceptions last season for the Longhorns. He can play box safety, free safety or slot cornerback – and he saw just one target against Ohio State last season. McDonald has an opportunity to enhance that stock against the Buckeyes’ elite receivers.
13. Luke Montgomery, G, Ohio State
Montgomery (6-5, 312) – a second-team SN Preseason All-America selection – was recruited as a four-star tackle, but he has settled in as a left guard on the interior for the Buckeyes. That versatility will be a plus at the next level.
14. Jaylen McClain, S, Ohio State
McClain (6-0, 231) was elected captain – and that means he’s the X-factor in a new-look Ohio State secondary. He had 53 tackles and three pass breakups last season and continues to improve in coverage.
15. Hollywood Smothers, RB, Texas
Smothers (5-11, 193) had 939 yards and 6 TDs at NC State last season. He averages 6.0 yards per carry for his career and will need to improve on yards after contact this season. Still, the potential to move up is there. Smothers had 10 carries for 70 yards and three catches for 28 yards against Texas State.
16. Raleek Brown, RB, Texas
Brown (5-9, 193) rushed for 1,141 yards and four TDs on 6.1 yards per carry at Arizona State. He also is a legit pass-catching option who had 34 catches for 239 yards. Brown had 31 runs of 10 yards or more last season according to PFF.com – the second-most among 2027 running backs. Brown had 11 carries for 34 yards and two TDs in the opener.
17. Brandon Inniss, WR, Ohio State
Inniss (6-0, 199) is on the fringe of a first-round pick. He had 271 receiving yards last season and is primarily involved in the short receiving game. According to PFF.com, Inniss has 23 catches on 26 targets on passes of 10 yards or less. He could be a valuable possession receiver in the NFL.
18. Ian Moore, LT, Ohio State
Moore (6-6, 315) is a redshirt sophomore who won the left tackle job and had an impressive debut as a pass blocker in the opener against Ball State.
19. Devin McCuin, WR, Ohio State
McCuin (6-0, 189) is yet another Ohio State receiver to watch. He had 726 receiving yards and eight TDs at UTSA last season and made a strong impression in fall camp. McCuin had six catches for 97 yards and a TD in the opener – which showed that is real. Given the Buckeyes’ track record of receiver development – McCuin could move up fast.
20. Earl Little, S, Ohio State
Little (6-0, 198) had four interceptions at Florida State. He’s a two-time transfer who also played at Alabama. He drew some comparisons to two-time All-America safety Caleb Downs among teammates in camp.
21. James Smith, DT, Ohio State
Smith (6-2, 314) – an Alabama transfer – is a massive interior defender with a quick first step who should be more disruptive this season for the Buckeyes. He had 2.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss for the Crimson Tide last season. Smith made a strong first impression against Ball State as one of the top run defenders for the Buckeyes.
22. Brandon Baker, G, Texas
Baker (6-4, 315) – a right guard – didn’t allow a sack on the interior and improved as a run blocker for the Longhorns last season. He’s a third-year player. Baker allowed a season-high five hurries against the Buckeyes last season. He had a strong start with 52 snaps in the opener against Texas State.
23. Payton Pierce, LB, Ohio State
Pierce (6-2, 233) is a junior captain who is expected to have a breakout season as a starter. He is a prototype fit for linebackers coach James Laurinaitis. Pierce had two hurries and two missed tackles in the opener – but a clean performance against the Longhorns last year.
24. Christian Alliegro, LB, Ohio State
Alliegro, (6-4, 241) is another solid linebacker for the Buckeyes. He totaled 119 tackles and 13 tackles for loss at Wisconsin the last two seasons. Alliegro excels against the run. He’s a potential Day 2 pick with room to move up.
25. Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB, Ohio State
Mathews (5-11, 190) is a second-year starter at cornerback and a veteran presence who had two interceptions and three pass breakups last season. He’s an excellent tackler who allowed just 4.2 yards after the catch last season.
Ohio State vs. Texas: Future NFL Draft prospects
Here are four freshmen to keep an eye on during the Ohio State-Texas matchup on Saturday:
Chris Henry Jr, WR, Ohio State
Henry (6-5, 195) is the heir apparent to Smith at Ohio State. He caught a 15-yard TD against Ball State in the final minutes. Henry’s upside as a first-round pick is the usual standard at the position group with the Buckeyes.
Legend Bey, RB, Ohio State
Bey (5-10, 195) – a five-star freshman from North Forney (Texas) High School, had 74 yards from scrimmage in the opener against Ball State. He’s a playmaker in space who will be involved in the return game early.
Jay Timmons, CB, Ohio State
Timmons (5-11, 191) – a five-star freshman from Pine Richland (Pa.) – had two pass breakups in his Ohio State debut. He was the top cornerback recruit in the 2026 class.
Jermaine Bishop Jr., WR, Texas
Bishop (6-0, 166) – a five-star freshman – had nearly 6,000 total yards at Willis (Texas) High School. He had two catches for 25 yards against Texas State.
