Ohio State Drops New Hype Trailer for Texas Showdown, Fans Finally Approve

From Backlash to Buy-In

Ohio State learned a quick lesson last week: not every celebrity voice lands. The LeBron James-narrated hype trailer split the fanbase, drawing criticism for feeling more like a Hollywood ad than a football program gearing up for a top-5 showdown. So instead of doubling down, the Buckeyes pivoted — and it worked.

Enter "The Trailer 02: Legacy," narrated by Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis. No celebrity gloss, no outside voice — just a coach who's lived the program's culture asking the questions that actually matter: "Do you have what it takes? In the dark? Under the lights? To leave something behind?"

Why Johnny Cash Changes Everything

The soundtrack choice is what's driving the reaction. Swapping polished celebrity narration for Johnny Cash's growling cover of "God's Gonna Cut You Down" gives the trailer a grittier, more ominous tone — one that fits a program about to walk into a hostile top-5 environment. Fans flooded social media with approval, with one comment summing up the vibe: "This so hard it makes me wanna punch my pillow for being soft."

It's a small marketing moment, but it says something bigger: Ohio State's fanbase wants authenticity over spectacle, especially heading into a game this loaded with stakes.

The Game Actually Backing Up the Hype

All the trailer talk aside, this weekend's matchup doesn't need much selling on its own. No. 1 Ohio State travels to Austin to face No. 5 Texas at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, and both teams enter unbeaten after lopsided openers — Ohio State throttled Ball State 56-3, while Texas ran up 59-7 on Texas State. Neither result tells us much, though. This is the first real test for both.

Quarterback Julian Sayin gets his first true road start in one of college football's loudest environments, a year after helping the Buckeyes edge Texas 14-7 in Columbus. History is on Ohio State's side here — the Buckeyes have now beaten Texas in the 2024 CFP semifinal and again last season, with Arch Manning struggling badly in that most recent meeting (170 passing yards). Texas will be looking for payback in front of its home crowd, and Manning will be under a microscope from the opening snap.

What to Watch

Expect this game to hinge on how Sayin handles Austin's noise and how much Manning has grown since last year's rough outing. Both storylines — the trailer's reception and the on-field rematch — point to the same thing: Ohio State is entering this season with real swagger, and so far, it's backed up by results.