ARLINGTON, Texas — There’s a sense for some Ohio State players that they haven’t done anything yet, even after winning twice already this postseason to get into a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Texas.
“Absolutely,” wide receiver Emeka Egbuka said. “I have been here for four years, and I have absolutely no hardware to show for it. That’s really on the forefront of our minds.”
While Ohio State is the only school to appear in four of the last six CFPs — all since Ryan Day became head coach — and won four consecutive Big Ten titles from 2017-20 before Egbuka and most of the current players arrived, the Buckeyes’ last national championship was 10 years ago.
That was the first season of the four-team CFP. The Buckeyes beat Oregon to win the title at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, where they will play the in-state Longhorns (13-2) on Friday night.
The winner advances to the national title game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
No. 8 seed Ohio State (12-2) is now favored to win the national title after two lopsided playoff wins: 42-17 at home against Tennessee and a dominant 41-21 victory over previously undefeated Big Ten champion and top seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
“We’re just fighting to get another opportunity to play with each other,” said linebacker and captain Cody Simon, one of nine Ohio State players still around from 2020. “That’s our biggest motivator right now. … We don’t want to end this run right now.”
Texas last won the national title 19 years ago and didn’t make its CFP debut until last season as the Big 12 champion. Coach Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns are now the last team standing for the SEC, the only conference to be represented in the semifinals each year — and with six of the last nine national champions.
The 15 games for the Longhorns, who played in the SEC championship game before playoff wins over Clemson and Big 12 champ Arizona State, are already one more than they ever had played in a single season.
“I like the new playoff dynamic. It’s fun,” Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers said.
“We’re obsessed with finishing up,” All-America cornerback Jahdae Barron added. “But we’re obsessed with being enamored with us and giving every day the respect that it deserves. And just being loving to one another and having a level bond with one another and continuing to build the culture.”
Championship QBs
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.
Texas was the Big 12 champ last season. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State, which two years ago beat CFP-bound and undefeated TCU in overtime for the conference title.
Howard started three games against Texas for the Wildcats. Those were all losses, as was a fourth game when he was on the sideline.
Chasing Smith
The best matchup of the game could be Barron versus Buckeyes freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Barron won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, but he gives up 4 inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country.
Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns, including four TDs in the playoffs.
“He’s a big baller. Strong,” Barron said. “He’s a physical player, and I’ll have to be physical.”
Protecting Ewers
In its two losses to Georgia this season, Texas struggled to protect Ewers and surrendered 13 sacks. Now the Longhorns face a Buckeyes defensive front that sacked Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel eight times in the Rose Bowl.
Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau each had two sacks in that game. Sawyer was Ewers’ roommate when the Longhorns QB spent a semester in Columbus before transferring to Texas.
Cotton history
Texas is playing in its 23rd Cotton Bowl, the most of any team. But this is the Longhorns’ first appearance in 22 years.
Ohio State is in its second Cotton Bowl in a row and fourth overall after losing 14-3 to Missouri last season.
See you again soon
While the winner plays for the national title, the loser begins an offseason that will lead up to a rematch when the teams meet in a 2025 season opener on Aug. 30 at Ohio State.
Their only previous regular-season meetings were a home-and-home series in 2005 and 2006. The road team won each game and went on to play for the national championship — Vince Young and the Longhorns beat USC for the 2005 national title, while Ohio State lost to Florida the next season.
AP’s Jim Vertuno contributed.
No. 8 seed Ohio State (12-2) vs. No. 5 Texas (13-2)
- Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. Friday, ESPN.
- Line: Ohio State by 6.
- Series: Texas leads 2-1.
Players to watch
Ohio State: RBs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each have 10 rushing touchdowns, and both have three in the playoffs. Henderson’s 925 rushing yards are one more than Judkins has.
Texas: Edge rusher Colin Simmons won the Shaun Alexander Award as the nation’s top freshman. The 18-year-old leads Texas with nine sacks behind a combination of speed and strength rare in such a young player at such a physical position.
Facts & figures
Ewers has thrown a touchdown in 26 consecutive games, a streak that was interrupted several times when he sat out because of injuries. … Ohio State ranks No. 1 nationally in total defense. Texas is No. 3. The Buckeyes have allowed a national-low 18 touchdowns this season. … Bert Auburn is Texas’ career leader with 66 field goals, but he’s struggling to make anything beyond 40 yards this season (6 of 14). He missed two (from 48 and 38) in the final two minutes that would have won the Peach Bowl against Arizona State in regulation. … The Cotton Bowl will be Texas’ 11th game in its home state this season. … Two of Texas’ previous four games went to overtime. The Longhorns went 1-1. … Simon has been the Buckeyes’ leading tackler in both CFP games with 12 against Tennessee and 11 against Oregon. … Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award given to the nation’s top lineman.
