One can forget the things people say, but never the way they make them feel.
For Texas Longhorns transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles, who grew up roughly 30 minutes south-east of Columbus in Pickerington, Ohio, the team's Sept. 12 matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Austin is personal.
"They called and stuff [when I was in the transfer portal], but I didn't want to stay in Columbus if I'm being honest. Obviously, we got agents. When I made my list and stuff, I told my mom, I ain't trying to be in Columbus, and I'm not trying to be a Buckeye. They didn't want me out of high school, and I was right there, so there's no point in trying to get me now," Biles said at a press conference about Ohio State on Thursday afternoon.
"I'm excited for that game, definitely. That's circled on my calendar, for sure."
The senior linebacker transferred to Texas after spending the first three seasons of his collegiate career with the Pitt Panthers (2023-25). Last season, Biles totaled 101 combined tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions — which were each run back for touchdowns — two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 10 games.
Over the last two years (2024-25), he averaged 91.5 combined tackles, 15.8 tackles for loss, five sacks, 1.5 interceptions and 1.5 forced fumbles per season. Biles joins a Texas defense that was 12th in the SEC last season in opponent passing yards (234.9 per game), eighth in opponent total yards (338.8 per game), sixth in opponent points (20.3 per game) and fifth in opponent rushing yards (103.9 per game).
The Longhorns missed the College Football Playoff at 9-3 before beating the Michigan Wolverines in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, while the then-defending champion Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff before losing to the Miami Hurricanes in the quarterfinal round. Texas is entering its second season with redshirt junior and former No. 1 recruit Arch Manning as its full-time quarterback.
As for the looming powerhouse showdown, the Week 2 duel between Texas and Ohio State will be their third matchup in as many years.
The two teams met in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals, with the Buckeyes beating the Longhorns (28-14) and then defeating them again to open the 2025 season at Ohio Stadium (14-7). It will be just the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs, with Ohio State 3-2 in those matchups.