Ohio State Edges Texas in Thrilling Cotton Bowl Semifinal

No. 8 Ohio State defeated No. 5 Texas 14-7 in a hard-fought College Football Playoff (CFP) Cotton Bowl semifinal on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Buckeyes secured their spot in the national championship game, where they will face No. 7 Notre Dame on Monday, Jan. 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Ohio State struck first in the opening quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins, capping a 64-yard drive. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 14-7 just before halftime when quarterback Will Howard connected with TreVeyon Henderson on a perfectly executed 75-yard screen pass for a touchdown. Texas responded with a quick 59-yard drive, culminating in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Jaydon Blue, tying the game at 7-7 with 29 seconds left in the half.

The second half was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find the end zone. Ohio State’s defense, led by standout edge rusher Jack Sawyer, held Texas to just 133 passing yards and forced multiple punts. Texas’ defense, anchored by linebacker Colin Simmons and cornerback Jahdae Barron, kept the Longhorns in the game but ultimately couldn’t overcome Ohio State’s offensive firepower.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard finished the game with 200 passing yards and a touchdown, while freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continued his impressive postseason run with seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers completed 10 of 20 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown but was sacked four times by Ohio State’s relentless pass rush.

The victory marks Ohio State’s third appearance in the CFP national championship game since the playoff system began in 2014. Texas, meanwhile, fell short in its quest for its first CFP title despite a strong season under head coach Steve Sarkisian.

The game drew a packed crowd at AT&T Stadium, with fans from both teams braving winter weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The matchup was the first between Ohio State and Texas since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, with the Longhorns holding a 2-1 edge in the all-time series.