Ohio State Leads Texas 14-7 in Cotton Bowl Semifinal Showdown

ARLINGTON, Texas — In a high-stakes College Football Playoff semifinal, No. 8 Ohio State leads No. 5 Texas 14-7 at halftime in the 2025 Cotton Bowl. The winner will advance to face No. 7 Notre Dame in the National Championship on January 20 in Atlanta.

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson delivered a game-changing 75-yard touchdown on a screen pass late in the second quarter, giving the Buckeyes momentum heading into the second half. Texas responded with an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quinn Ewers to Jaydon Blue, but Ohio State’s dominant first-half performance has kept the Longhorns on their heels.

The Buckeyes outgained Texas 219-136 in total yards in the first half, despite being hampered by penalties. Three Ohio State drives were stalled by offensive penalties, including two holding calls and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Henderson. Texas, meanwhile, struggled to establish its running game, gaining only 31 yards on the ground.

Ohio State’s defense has been relentless, sacking Ewers three times and forcing multiple fumbles, though Texas recovered all of them. Buckeyes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau was a standout early, recording 1.5 sacks before leaving the game with an apparent injury in the second quarter.

Texas faced additional adversity when starting kicker Bert Auburn was benched after missing two critical field goals in the Peach Bowl. Backup Will Stone handled the extra point on Texas’ touchdown, adding uncertainty to the Longhorns’ special teams.

The Buckeyes, who have outscored opponents 35-0 in the first half of their previous two playoff games, look to maintain their momentum in the second half. Texas, the only SEC team remaining in the playoff field, will need to find answers quickly to keep its championship hopes alive.

Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as the second half unfolds at AT&T Stadium.