Ohio State Faces Texas in High-Stakes Cotton Bowl Semifinal

Two of college football’s most storied programs, Ohio State and Texas, will clash in the 2025 Cotton Bowl semifinal on Friday, Jan. 10, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game, set for 7:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on ESPN, will determine which team advances to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Ohio State, the No. 5 seed, enters the game riding a wave of momentum after dominant performances in the playoff. The Buckeyes defeated their first-round opponent by 25 points and stunned undefeated No. 1 seed Georgia 41-21 in the quarterfinals. Texas, the No. 8 seed, narrowly escaped a double-overtime thriller against No. 4 seed Alabama to secure their spot in the semifinal.

The matchup marks only the fourth meeting between the two programs, with Texas holding a 2-1 edge. Their last encounter came in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, where Texas triumphed 24-21 behind a standout performance from receiver Quan Cosby.

Ohio State’s offense has been fueled by freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the No. 1 overall receiver recruit in the 2024 class. Smith has been unstoppable in the playoffs, amassing 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Texas counters with a formidable secondary led by Thorpe Award-winning nickelback Jahdae Barron, but Smith’s talent presents a unique challenge.

Both teams boast elite defenses, ranking in the top three nationally in total defense, yards per play allowed, and passing defense. Ohio State’s defense stifled Oregon‘s rushing attack, holding them to -23 yards, while Texas struggled to run the ball in their two losses this season, averaging just 1.1 yards per carry.

Experts predict a defensive battle, with Ohio State favored by 5.5 points. SportsLine‘s computer model, which simulates every matchup 10,000 times, projects Ohio State to outlast Texas and advance to the national championship.