If you thought Ohio State fans were chillin’ after that natty win, think again. ‘Cause the honeymoon phase? Oh, it’s already on borrowed time. The target’s already locked, and it ain’t Ryan Day or Brian Hartline catching heat if the Buckeyes stumble against Texas in the opener. The Ohio State faithful have their eyes on someone else—someone they’ve practically labeled a “whipping boy” before the season even kicks off.

The thing is, there’s no mystery about who that someone is. It’s Matt Patricia, Bill Belichick’s former right-hand man, who the Buckeyes hired back in February to replace Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator. And if you think Patricia’s got a smooth road ahead, buckle up. Word on the street is Patricia’s already got a target on his back. And it’s not just from the fans.

During a fiery convo with Buckeye fan on the ‘Buckeye Scoop’ podcast, Ohio Buckeye fan didn’t hold back: “I think the most important thing that Matt Patricia brings is that he will be the official whipping boy for the Ohio State fan base and for the media for 2025. Cuz you know, you need one. There needs to be somebody that people can direct their eye at.” 

A Buckeye fan on the phone painted a pretty clear picture of the situation. With Ryan Day’s national championship win giving him a free pass and Brian Hartline’s recruiting wizardry making him untouchable, Patricia’s pretty much the only guy left to blame. “It’s not gonna be—you go to the staff and you gotta go, ‘Okay, Ryan Day?’ Nope, nope. Ryan’s got a pass. Ryan’s got that big old pass called the 2024 National Championship that he’s going to be able to carry around pretty much for the rest of his career at Ohio State,” the Buckeye fan explained.

But the thing is, college football ain’t the pros. And Buckeye fans are ruthless when it comes to expectations. Barton kept it real about Matt Patricia hot seat “First game. First quarter of the Texas game. When Arch scores that first touchdown, it’s over. I mean, and again, they’ll turn on Brian Hartline, and they’ll turn on Tyler Bone—I mean, he’s not—he (Matt Patricia) doesn’t get any because he’s new here.” 

Now, here’s where it gets juicy. This season’s opener against Texas? It’s a grudge game, plain and simple.

The last time these two squads met, Ohio State sent Texas packing in the College Football Playoff semifinal with a 28-14 win. You think Steve Sarkisian’s gonna let that slide? Not a chance. But while Texas is coming in hot, Ohio State’s over here trying to prove their defense ain’t about to fall off a cliff. And Patricia’s the fall guy everyone’s waiting to crucify if things go sideways. See, Ohio State lost its star quarterback Will Howard to the NFL Draft. They got Alabama transfer Julian Sayin, who’s supposed to be the next big thing, but who knows? At least they’ve got studs like Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith holding down the fort.

Meanwhile, Texas is trotting out Arch Manning, the golden boy, and if he lights up Patricia’s defense in the opener? Whew, it’s gonna be chaos in Columbus. Even Bleacher Report is feeling the upset vibes, saying, “But I like Manning and Texas to pull off a huge upset to start the 2025 season off with a bang.” But the Buckeye fan laid it out clear as day on Matt Patricia as a scapegoat. “I think that they’ve already kind of put the target on him, and as you said, he’s gonna be an ‘easy mark’ this year because the defense can’t possibly be as good. They’re not going to improve on number one. They can’t go from number one to number zero.” 

Well, Patricia’s either about to shock the world or get roasted before September even ends. And if Texas shows up and punches Ohio State in the mouth early, there might not be any saving him from the wrath of the Buckeye faithful.

Texas Longhorns to pull off a massive shocker against Ohio State Buckeyes and Ryan Day?

The Texas Longhorns are rolling into Columbus with something to prove on August 30th. After getting handled by Ohio State in last year’s Cotton Bowl, 28-14, Steve Sarkisian’s crew is coming back with a vengeance. And they’re bringing Arch Manning with them—yeah, that Manning. The kid’s been hyped up more than a new iPhone release, but now he’s got to deliver.

Ohio State’s the heavy favorite, sure. But let’s not act like Texas is just here for the free snacks. They’ve got one of the nastiest lineups in the country, even if they did lose 13 starters to the NFL Draft. C.J. Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner are beasts in the backfield, while Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr. are straight-up menaces at receiver. And Texas? They’ve been hearing all the noise. They know everybody’s still writing them off because of last year’s playoff loss. Bleacher Report’s even got Texas pegged as the top dog to pull off a huge upset to start the season.

But some oddsmakers have Ohio State as a 3.5-point favorite, with the over/under sitting at 51.5, meaning folks are expecting a solid but not crazy shootout. The key to this game? It’s all about the QBs. If Manning can hold his own against a nasty Ohio State defense, Texas has a shot. But if the Buckeyes’ pass rush gets after him early, it could be a long night for the Longhorns.

Texas isn’t just trying to win this game. They’re trying to make a statement—one that’ll have the whole college football world buzzing. The kind of upset that changes how everybody sees the landscape. And if Patricia’s defense falters, he’s gonna find himself on a scorching hot seat real quick. But hey, if Ohio State can pull off the W, Patricia’s job might just be safe—for now.