COLUMBUS, Ohio — Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian is “confident” running back CJ Baxter will be available for the Longhorns’ season opener at Ohio State on Aug. 30.
Sarkisian shared the update in an interview with Saints defensive end Cam Jordan during an episode of “Off the Edge” which published Wednesday.
“His rehab is going fantastic,” Sarkisian said. “He looks really good. He’s in really good spirits. Obviously, we have some time. For him, essentially, it’s got to be a 12-month recovery, which is a great amount of time coming off of an ACL.”
Texas signed Baxter as the top-rated running back in the 2023 recruiting class. As a freshman, he ran for 659 yards and five touchdowns.
Many expected him to be UT’s starting running back in 2024. However, he tore his ACL during preseason camp in August and missed his sophomore campaign.
Baxter is a product of Orlando, Florida, whose offer sheet featured Ohio State when Tony Alford was coaching the position.
Ohio State women’s basketball set for March Madness
Ohio State women’s basketball opens play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday with a home matchup against No. 13 seed Montana State.
The No. 4-seeded Buckeyes are 15.5-point favorites, according to DraftKings. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. Eastern inside Schottenstein Center.
The winner between Ohio State and Montana State will face No. 5 seed Tennessee or No. 12 seed South Florida in the second round. The Vols and Bulls are scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip-off Friday.
Key dates
- Spring Showcase: 22 days, April 12, 2025
- NFL Draft: 34 days, April 24-26, 2025
- Big Ten Media Days: 123 days, July 22-24, 2025
- Ohio State vs. Texas (season opener): 162 days, Aug. 30, 2025
- Ohio State vs. Penn State: 225 days, Nov. 1, 2025
- The Game 2025: 253 days, Nov. 29, 2025
- Big Ten Championship Game: 260 days, Dec. 6, 2025
- College Football Playoff first round: 273 days, Dec. 19-20, 2025
- College Football Playoff quarterfinal: 285 days, Dec. 31, 2025-Jan. 1, 2026
- College Football Playoff semifinal: 293 days, Jan. 8-9, 2026
- College Football Playoff National Championship Game: 304 days, Jan. 19, 2026
