9 hours ago4 min read

Buckeyes, Longhorns Set for CFP Semifinal in Cotton Bowl

Ohio State|Emeka Egbuka — Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2) and the No. 5 Texas Longhorns (13-2) will face off in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 to decide which of the two will advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Stylistically, these two teams present perhaps the most difficult challenges of any teams they have faced this season. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will look to carry the momentum his team has created in their last two games, while Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will try to get his team back to form after a tough second-round win.

What's at Stake in the Cotton Bowl?

The stakes become more and more clear as the postseason progresses. Each of these two teams are now only a single step away from an opportunity to accomplish their ultimate goal. The winner of this one goes on to play the winner of No. 7 Notre Dame (13-1) and No. 6 Penn State (13-2) for a national championship. The loser will have to travel back home and begin preparing to attempt to do this all over again next year.

Key Players for Ohio State

Offense: Will Howard, Quarterback

Howard has played near-perfect in the first two playoff games for the Buckeyes. In those two outings, he was 41-of-55 for 630 yards and 5 passing touchdowns and only 1 interception. Howard has been one of the most accurate QBs in the NCAA this year. He seems to only be improving now each week in the postseason. The key for Howard will be to keep making good decisions and getting the ball to his playmakers. Wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka have been nothing short of amazing in their two playoff games. Howard has been just as impressive with his accuracy on his throws to them and the other various offensive weapons. If Howard continues to play that way, the Texas defense will have a tough time throughout all four quarters.

Defense: Caleb Downs, Defensive Back

Downs is unquestionably one of the best defenders in the nation over the last two years. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has put him in a position to do what he does best this season. Downs is playing this hybrid middle safety/linebacker position that allows him to roam the field and make life difficult for opposing QBs. He patrols the middle and is able to defend all three levels from his spot with his skills. His ability to take away everything in his vicinity could heavily affect the Texas offense.

Key Players for Texas

Offense: Quinn Ewers, Quarterback

It is very apparent that Ewers is not fully-healthy this late into the season. His oblique injury has seemed to still be lingering and affecting him. Despite that, he is still one of the most talented and accurate QBs in the country. The Ohio State defense cannot afford to underestimate him. Ewers is as accurate as it gets in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. His deep ball is also very, very impressive. His injury seems to have taken a toll of that deep ball accuracy, but the capability is certainly still there. The final aspect of his game that could come into play is his composure in high-pressure situations. Ewers has been in the playoff before and has been in position to make big plays in close games. If Texas needs a score in the final minutes, they know Ewers is at the top of the list of QBs a team would want in that scenario.

Defense: Jahdae Barron, Defensive Back

The Ohio State offense has been as explosive as it gets in their last two games. Their passing attack has been deadly and it has led to them jumping out to huge leads and never looking back. Barron will be perhaps the most integral piece of the Texas defense's ability to slow down that attack. No matter where he lines up, he will find himself across from one of the best receiving targets in all of college football. If the Longhorns want to prevent those huge plays, the Thorpe Award winner will need to play a huge role on Friday night.

Trends to Watch

The obvious part of this game that will play a huge role is the explosiveness of each team's passing game. Both sides have great QBs with a full array of dangerous weapons at their disposal. Both defenses also have spectacular secondaries that will attempt to limit those big plays. If either defense can slow down the passing attack, they will still have to worry about the run game. Both offenses have talented running back tandems. Ohio State has the duo of TreyVeon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, while Texas has Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue. Those four players all are capable of turning the momentum around on any snap.

Another interesting aspect of this game to keep an eye on is how Ohio State's defense handles Sarkisian's offensive scheme. They faced Alabama in the 2021 national title game when Sarkisian was the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator. Their offense had their way with the Buckeyes all game and they coasted to victory. The difference now is that the Buckeyes are an entirely different unit under the leadership of Knowles. Watching how Sarkisian and Knowles attack and respond to each other will be one of the best coaching matchups this season.

This game is certainly a great matchup on paper. Both sides have explosive offenses and incredible defenses to combat the opposition. There are future NFL players all over each side of the ball for both teams as well. Both sides also have top coaching staffs. It simply does not get much better at any area for both Ohio State and Texas. Those factors should make for an incredible game to decide who will play for a national championship on Jan. 20.