Julian Sayin had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State got a couple of key stops in the red zone and the third-ranked Buckeyes opened the defense of their national championship with a 14-7 victory over top-ranked Texas.
No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State each had three players selected for the preseason AP All-America team.
Ohio State, the first team to run the gauntlet of four playoff games on its way to the national title, celebrated with 30,000 Buckeyes fan on Sunday at Ohio Stadium.
Smothering defenses have carried the last four teams still in the hunt for the national championship.
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts are repeat first-team selections on The Associated Press All-America team.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers.
