On Friday night, two of college football’s most iconic brands will face off in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Texas and Ohio State will face off in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in the national championship game.
Since losing to rival Michigan in the regular season finale, Ohio State has evolved into a machine. The Buckeyes dominated their first two playoff opponents, No. 9 Tennessee and No. 1 Oregon, winning by a combined 45 points. Will we see more of the same at AT&T Stadium, Arlington?
If Jeremiah Smith continues his monster postseason, Ohio State will likely face Notre Dame for the national championship. Smith had six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns against the Volunteers. He performed even better against the top-ranked Ducks, recording seven receptions, 187 yards, and two touchdowns.
Texas will have its hands full with Smith running downfield, and it must contain him better than it did against Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo in the quarterfinals. The Horns allowed Skattebo 242 total yards and two touchdowns in two overtimes to defeat the Sun Devils.
On the other side of the coin, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is coming off a strong performance in his team’s thrilling victory over Arizona State. He completed 20 of 30 pass attempts for 322 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. If Ewers can replicate his performance against Ohio State, Texas will have a good chance to defeat the hottest team in the postseason.
Where to watch Ohio State vs. Texas
Date: Friday, Jan. 10 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
Ohio State vs. Texas series history
Texas owns a 2-1 edge over Ohio State in their only three meetings.
- Jan. 5, 2009 — Texas 24, Ohio State 21
- Sept. 9, 2006 — Ohio State 24, Texas 7
- Sept. 10, 2005 — Texas 25, Ohio State 22