by Photo via Ohio State Athletics
On Friday, the Ohio State football team will return to the field to face Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic and more importantly, semifinals of the College Football Playoff. The game will be played in Arlington, Texas, perhaps giving a slight home-field advantage to the Longhorns, but overall, the matchup is as juicy as it gets in the world of college football.
Texas, a historical powerhouse, had fallen onto hard times in recent years, but fourth-year Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has really turned things around. Following a 12-win season and playoff berth last year, the Longhorns have followed up with another great season. So far, they’re 13-2, with both losses coming to Georgia (one in the regular season, one in the SEC Championship).
For the third straight year, Quinn Ewers, a name Ohio State fans know well, quarterbacks the Longhorns. Ewers, a highly-touted recruit, started his career with the Buckeyes but transferred out after one season following the return of C.J. Stroud. Ewers is having a nice season in 2024, despite missing some time with an abdominal injury. He’s thrown for 3,189 yards and an SEC-leading 29 touchdowns, but he does get a bit careless at times as he’s thrown 11 interceptions this year. Because of that, it’ll be crucial for Ohio State to get pressure on him and force him out of his comfort zone.
Similar to the Buckeyes, Texas’s running back situation is by committee, although not quite as talented. Tre Wisner leads the way with 1,018 yards and five touchdowns, while Jaydon Blue is the more utilized redzone back with 714 yards and eight touchdowns. The receiving room is interesting, as Houston-transfer Matthew Golden is the team leader in yards and touchdowns with 936 and nine. Tight end Gunnar Helm is second in yards with 744 and also broke the school’s single-season receptions record with 58. Isaiah Bond, whose lightning speed has him in early NFL Draft discussions, has 532 yards and true freshman Ryan Wingo has 450.
Statistically, Texas had the best defense in the SEC this year in terms of yards per game. Their secondary is where they hang their hat, as cornerback Jahdae Barron and safety Andrew Mukuba are among the best players in the country. Their run defense is good too, but not quite as bullet proof as the pass defense, and big names such as linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and defensive tackle Alfred Collins are capable of wreaking havoc.
Perhaps the biggest key for the Buckeyes will be to come out with the same aggressiveness that they came out with against Tennessee and Oregon in both play-calling and execution. Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith have stolen the show with their chemistry and game-breaking connections, but this game might be won at the line of scrimmage. The Longhorns will put pressure on Ohio State’s battered offensive line, but despite the injuries, the unit has held together well. If they can protect Howard and allow TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to find productive holes, things should be alright.
Defensively, again, putting pressure on Ewers will be huge. The Buckeyes recorded eight sacks against Oregon and four against Tennessee and if they can do that again, Texas will have a very difficult time getting their offense into rhythm. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles seems to have figured out how to unlock this Ohio State defense and from top to bottom, it’s looking like the best group Head Coach Ryan Day has had in years.
Despite the two huge wins over the past couple weeks, a loss to Texas would turn this season into a disappointment. The water might not be as hot as it was a month ago, but the Buckeyes both need to and should win this game and play for a national championship for the first time since the 2020 season.
