Whoever wins the Cotton Bowl on Friday night will almost assuredly be the favorite to win the College Football Playoff title game against Notre Dame on Jan. 20. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the big showdown between Ohio State and Texas.
This is a matchup of two blue-blood programs that haven’t won the title in a bit. Ohio State last won it all a decade ago on the arm of third-string QB Cardale Jones; you have to reach all the way back to Vince Young’s dash into the end zone in 2005 for Texas’ last title.
Ohio State is the favorite to hoist the trophy after blistering its opponents by a combined score of 83-38 in the first two rounds. Will Howard is a big reason for that and is playing the best football of his Ohio State career. It also helps to have a generational talent like Jeremiah Smith catching balls.
Texas has had a bit more drama on its way to the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns coughed up a 24-8 lead in the fourth quarter as Arizona State turned a 16-point deficit into a tie game in just over five minutes. They would hold on, but the lack of separation has been a theme for the Longhorns all year.
Who will move on to the title game in Atlanta on Jan. 20? Follow all the action below.
Ohio State wins Cotton Bowl, advances to CFP title game
FINAL: Ohio State 28, Texas 14
The Buckeyes hold on to advance to the CFP title game!
Ohio State interception!
Quinn Ewers is picked off by Caleb Downs, and that will truly wrap this thing up.
Ohio State will advance to the national championship against Notre Dame.
Disastrous sequence for Texas
The Longhorns had a 1st-and-goal at the 1 with a chance to tie it up, until a rough four plays
1st down: Jerrick Gibson rushed for no gain
2nd down: Quintrevion Wisner rushed for 7 yard loss
3rd down: Quinn Ewers incomplete pass
4th down: Quinn Ewers sacked by Jack Sawyer for 9-yard loss. Jack Sawyer recovered fumble and returned for 83-yard touchdown
Ohio State SCOOP AND SCORE!
Jack Sawyer strip-sacks Quinn Ewers on 4th-and-goal at the 8-yard line and runs it all the way back for a touchdown! That will basically seal it with 2:13 to play.
Ohio State 28, Texas 14
Touchdown Ohio State!
Quinshon Judkins punches it in from the 1 and the Buckeyes are back in front with 7:02 to play!
OSU 21, Texas 14
Ohio State converts on 4th down!
Will Howard breaks free for a big gain on 4th-and-2 from the Texas 34-yard line. Bold call pays off, and the ball is inside the 20. Howard might have scored if not for a stumble.
Ohio State on the move
After stopping Texas, the Buckeyes got the ball back and have driven it to near midfield after a clutch 3rd down throw by Will Howard.
End of 3rd: Texas 14, OSU 14
Suddenly, Texas feels like it’s in control of this game.
The Buckeyes go nowhere on their drive and punt it back.
Longhorns have a shot to take their first lead.
Touchdown Texas!
It’s Jaydon Blue again! This time for a 26-yard TD catch and run after Quinn Ewers delivered a nice ball under pressure. Impressive drive by the Longhorns to tie it up.
Texas 14, Ohio State 14
Quinn Ewers keeps drive alive
The Texas QB managed to complete THIS pass for a 14-yard gain in 3rd-and-10.
Texas can’t take advantage
The turnover doesn’t end up costing Ohio State anything as the defense comes up with a stop.
Buckeyes get it back after a Texas punt.
Texas interception!
Will Howard throws an interception while under pressure, as David Gbenda steps in front of it. Big start to the half for the Texas defense.
2nd half kicks off
Ohio State takes the ball to start the 2nd half.
You’re not alone if you think that Texas has been hanging around by a thread. The closeness of the first half feels more about Ohio State’s offense than anything else. Give credit to Texas’ defense, outside of that 75-yard TD pass, the Longhorns have played Ohio State better than anyone else in the postseason. But the Texas offense needs to carry over what it found at the end of the first half without Matthew Golden.
Halftime stats
Click for full box score
Texas fans react to OSU TD
Horns fans were going through it after the big Ohio State TD before the half.
Halftime: Ohio State 14, Texas 7
Well that was an exciting finish to the half, with two touchdowns scored in the last 30 seconds.
Ohio State looked dominant early but things have evened out a bit. Should be a fun 2nd half incoming.
Ohio State touchdown!!!!
Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson streaks 75 yards on a screen pass on the first play of the drive and the Buckeyes get it RIGHT BACK!
Ohio State 14, Texas 7
Touchdown Texas!
Quinn Ewers drops a dime to Jaydon Blue in the end zone! And just like that it’s a new ballgame with 29 seconds left in the half.
Texas 7, Ohio State 7
Horns into the red zone
Silas Bolden caught a short pass and then broke a tackle and took the ball inside the OSU 20.
34 seconds left in the half as Texas tried to get points on the board.
Arch Manning appears!
Texas faced a 4th and 1 right at the 50 and they brought backup QB Arch Manning in to run for the first.
He got it and then some. And the Longhorns fans loved it.
3-and-out for Buckeyes
All of a sudden no one can get anything going on offense.
Will Howard is sacked on 3rd down an OSU punts it right back.
Dropped ball ends Texas threat
Isaiah Bond got open on 3rd down but flat-out dropped it. Drive over. Missed opportunity for the Horns.
Penalties hurting OSU
Another Ohio State drive gets halted by multiple penalties. The action has really slowed here after the opening couple of drives.
It’s Texas ball.
Ohio State’s Tuimoloau hurt
Star defensive end JT Tuimoloau is down on the field with an injury. That could be potentially very big for OSU.
Meanwhile, OSU QB Will Howard is playing with a pretty big bump on his non-throwing hand.
Matthew Golden heads to locker room
Texas’ leading receiver, Matthew Golden, is apparently hurt and was seen walking to the locker room on the ESPN broadcast. Bad news for the Longhorns.
Another OSU sack, another Texas punt
Sonny Styles takes down Quinn Ewers on 3rd down and actually jarred the ball loose, but the Longhorns fell on it. Either way, they punt it away and Ohio State gets it right back.
Dominant start for the OSU pass rush, with 3 sacks already.
Penalty kills OSU drive
Ohio State was marching it again, but a 15-yard unsportsmanlike foul on TreVeyon Henderson was too much to overcome. The Buckeyes will have to punt or try a very long field goal to start the 2nd quarter.
Texas drive stalls
The Longhorns once again had a nice start, moving the ball into OSU territory. But Quinn Ewers took a sack on third down and that forced a punt.
Buckeyes ball.
Touchdown OSU!
Quinshon Judkins with a powerful 9-yard TD run and the Buckeyes are on the board first.
Yet another fast start for OSU in the playoffs.
Ohio State 7, Texas 0
OSU in the red zone
Will Howard has made a few nice throws on 3rd downs to keep the drive going and and the Buckeyes are suddenly inside the 10.
Texas turnover on downs
Longhorns go for it on 4th and 3 at the OSU 35-yard line and a rushed pass falls incomplete.
Texas could have attempted a roughly 55-yard field goal there but instead comes up empty.
Golden hauls it in with one hand!
Texas gets its first first down with Matthew Golden’s unbelievable one-handed grab on the sideline.
Early candidate for catch of the day?
Cotton Bowl kickoff
It’s a touchback and Texas starts with the ball at its own 25.
Ohio State wins the toss, defers
Texas will receive the opening kickoff. A spot in the national title game on the line. Here we go.
Fans braved the weather
Despite a very unusual snowstorm in the Dallas area in the days leading up to tonight’s game, both fan bases showed out for the Cotton Bowl.
This is probably not the best photo, but there’s a very healthy amount of Ohio State fans here. Buckeye fans were able to make the trip after all. pic.twitter.com/KZSUZo61hL
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Good evening folks and welcome to our live tracker for the College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Texas!
We still have about an hour before kickoff, so here’s some light reading material while we wait for the action to start.
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