Paul Finebaum explains how Texas 'upped its ante' with 2025 schedule, Ohio State matchup

When Texas kicks off the 2025 season, it will do so in one of the biggest matchups of the year. The Longhorns will head to Ohio State in Week 1 – a game Paul Finebaum said could have a major impact on their season.

That Week 1 matchup will put two College Football Playoff teams against each other out of the gate. But Texas has another top team on its schedule, the SEC announced Wednesday night. Georgia awaits in mid-November at Sanford Stadium in a rematch of this year’s conference championship.

Finebaum pointed out the importance of those games in the CFP conversation, especially since strength of schedule was such a hot topic of conversation this year. But he also noted the impact losing to Ohio State and Georgia – which he predicted – could have on Texas’ resume.

“I think, it’s so interesting … Texas has really upped its ante by going to Ohio State,” Finebaum said on the SEC’s 2025 schedule reveal show. “It’s one thing to go to Michigan. We knew this was going to be a down Michigan team.

“But going to Ohio State is a completely different situation, and should they lose that game – with that game against Georgia looming at the end of the year – suddenly, we’re talking about something that we just got through talking about for the last three months is, who is going to get in the Playoff? I’m not saying it’s a disqualifier, but right now, I would have Texas losing both of those games. With all the other very difficult games, that is a real issue.”

Texas will play four non-conference games to start the year, beginning with the trip to Columbus. From there, the Longhorns will take on San Jose State and UTEP before their first bye week and close out the non-conference slate against Sam Houston State. Then, SEC play starts on Oct. 4 against Florida in The Swamp – a trip UT hasn’t made since the 1940s.