At first, there were 12 College Football Playoff teams. Only, four remain with Ohio State and Texas set to battle at the Cotton Bowl. The winner of the latest Big Ten vs. SEC matchup will go on to face the winner of the Orange Bowl, Penn State or Notre Dame. Ohio State and Texas have taken two very different routes to get to the prestigious Cotton Bowl and both have been playing some of the best football of the year.
This game marks the fourth time these two storied programs will face off. The Buckeyes and Longhorns split a home-and-home series in 2005 and 2006 before Texas took the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. This is Ohio State’s fourth Cotton Bowl and the Buckeyes enter with a 2-1 record. Meanwhile, Texas is a frequent flier with the Cotton Bowl’s old tie-in with the Big 12, the Longhorns’ old conference. This marks the 23rd time Texas is featured in the Cotton Bowl where it holds a 12-10 record.
With a win, Ohio State will get back to the CFP National Championship for the first time since the 2020 season and second time in the CFP era. Should Texas emerge victorious, it will be the first time the Longhorns will play for a national championship since that 2006 Rose Bowl instant classic.
Cotton Bowl: Ohio State and Texas Face off in CFP Semifinals
How We Got Here
Texas entered the season as one of the favorites to win the national championship and did little to sew doubt in that hype. The Longhorns kicked off the season strong with six straight wins including victories over Michigan and Oklahoma. Then, Georgia came to town and handed Texas a 30-15 defeat, thus bringing the team down to Earth. Unmoved, Texas rattled off five straight to earn a spot in the SEC Championship in the program’s first season in the new league. Unfortunately for Texas, Georgia was waiting yet again and came away victorious again.
As the runner-up, Texas locked in the five seed and hosted ACC Champion, Clemson in the CFP First Round. Despite giving up a first-drive touchdown, Texas went on a 21-0 run, propelling it to a commanding 38-24 win at home. In the quarterfinals, Texas drew Big 12 Champion, Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. With 10:17 to go in the game, Texas scored to take a definitive 24-8 lead. Then, the Sun Devils came storming back to force overtime after two touchdowns with two two-point conversions. The two traded touchdowns in the first overtime before Texas scored in the second period and held the Sun Devils out of the endzone.
Ohio State’s season has been up and down. After dispatching the three Group of 5 foes at the top of the schedule, the Buckeyes took care of business in the first two Big Ten matchups. Then, it fell in a one-point affair at Oregon. No matter, the Buckeyes got back on track with a pair of close wins over Nebraska and Penn State. After three more wins, one of which was over fifth-ranked Indiana, the Buckeyes inexplicably dropped another game to Michigan.
With the second loss, the Buckeyes failed to qualify for the Big Ten championship and were awarded the eighth seed. In the CFP First Round, Ohio State hosted Tennessee. The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 21-0 lead and thoroughly trounced the Volunteers. With the win, Ohio State earned a rematch in the Rose Bowl. Once again, Ohio State got out to a 34-0 lead en route to a 41-21 drubbing over the top-ranked Ducks.
When Texas Has the Ball
The Longhorns are led by one-time Buckeye, Quinn Ewers. The third-year starter has been solid for the Longhorns with 3,189 yards and an SEC-best 29 touchdowns. He will test the Ohio State secondary with tight end Gunnar Helm and receivers Matthew Golden and Ryan Wingo. Isaiah Bond was a threat but missed the Peach Bowl with an injury. This passing attack has been solid with four receivers averaging at least 16 yards per catch. At the same time, the rushing attack is formidable. Tre Wisner leads the way with 1,018 yards and five touchdowns with Jaydon Blue right behind.
The Longhorns haven’t faced a defense like Ohio State’s this year, however. The Buckeyes field the top scoring, passing, and total defense to go with the fifth-best rushing defense. The Ohio State defense has been elite all year but in the CFP, it’s been unleashed. Jim Knowles’ scheme has produced 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in the last two games alone. Jack Sawyer and Jaylahn Tuimoloau are finally playing up to their lofty billings as five-star players and potential NFL Draft picks. The secondary will have to step up again in this one. If Texas can run the “force Denzel Burke/Davison Igbinosun to commit defensive pass interference” play, it’ll have plenty of success on the night.
When Ohio State Has the Ball
Speaking of unleashed units, the Ohio State offense has been a completely different monster in the CFP. In the two CFP matchups to this point, Will Howard has been surgical, completing 41 of 55 passes for 630 yards and five touchdowns. While he has been fantastic in both matchups, his job has been made significantly easier by Jeremiah Smith and his home-run-hitting ability. The freshman phenom is averaging 22.3 yards per reception and has scored four times with each being more impressive than the last. The big question will be can the offensive line continue to play out of its minds despite the shake-ups?
Texas is loaded on defense. Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron leads the secondary with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups. The real strength is in the front seven. If Ohio State thought Tennessee and Oregon had stout defensive lines, Texas is different. The Longhorns have four players with 10 tackles for loss and at least five sacks on the year. Texas boasts the third-best passing defense, third-best total defense, and fourth-best scoring defense of the year. While Ohio State has already taken down three top-10 defenses to this point, Texas may pose the biggest threat.
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