Texas vs. Ohio State Clash in Cotton Bowl for CFP Semifinal

ARLINGTON, Texas — The College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between No. 5 Texas and No. 8 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, Jan. 10, delivered high stakes and intense drama. The winner would advance to face Notre Dame in the national championship game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

Ohio State entered the game riding a wave of momentum, having dominated their previous two playoff games by a combined 45 points, including a 41-21 victory over top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Texas, a first-year SEC member, narrowly defeated No. 4 Arizona State in double-overtime in the Peach Bowl to secure their spot in the semifinal.

The game began with Ohio State asserting control early. A 64-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter, capped by a 9-yard run from Quinshon Judkins, gave the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead. Texas struggled to find rhythm, with quarterback Quinn Ewers facing relentless pressure from Ohio State’s defense, which recorded three sacks in the first half.

Texas managed to tie the game in the third quarter after a gritty drive led by Ewers, who converted multiple third downs, including a miraculous toss to Quintrevion Wisner on third-and-10. The Longhorns’ resilience paid off with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue, knotting the score at 14-14.

Ohio State regained the lead in the fourth quarter with a daring fourth-down conversion and a 2-yard touchdown run by Judkins. The Buckeyes sealed the victory with a game-changing play: defensive end Jack Sawyer sacked Ewers, forced a fumble, and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 28-14 with just over two minutes remaining.

The Buckeyes’ defense, led by Sawyer and linebacker Sonny Styles, stifled Texas throughout the game, recording 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. Ohio State’s offense, despite being hampered by penalties, relied on a balanced attack and big plays, including a 75-yard screen pass touchdown to TreVeyon Henderson.

With the win, Ohio State advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship, where they will face Notre Dame. The Buckeyes’ dominant performance in the Cotton Bowl solidified their status as one of the nation’s top teams, while Texas’ season ended in heartbreak despite a valiant effort.