Texas vs. Ohio State updates: Follow semifinal at the Cotton Bowl
Whoever wins the Cotton Bowl on Friday night will almost assuredly be the favorite to win the College Football Playoff title game against Notre Dame on Jan. 20. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the big showdown between Ohio State and Texas.
Date: Jan. 10 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN | Line: Ohio State -6 | Total: 53.5
This is a matchup of two blue-blood programs that haven’t won the title in a bit. Ohio State last won it all a decade ago on the arm of third-string QB Cardale Jones; you have to reach all the way back to Vince Young’s dash into the end zone in 2005 for Texas’ last title.
Ohio State is the favorite to hoist the trophy after blistering its opponents by a combined score of 83-38 in the first two rounds. Will Howard is a big reason for that and is playing the best football of his Ohio State career. It also helps to have a generational talent like Jeremiah Smith catching balls.
Texas has had a bit more drama on its way to the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns coughed up a 24-8 lead in the fourth quarter as Arizona State turned a 16-point deficit into a tie game in just over five minutes. They would hold on, but the lack of separation has been a theme for the Longhorns all year.
Who will move on to the title game in Atlanta on Jan. 20? Follow all the action below.
Live14 updates
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:51 AM GMT+1
Texas turnover on downsLonghorns go for it on 4th and 3 at the OSU 35-yard line and a rushed pass falls incomplete.
Texas could have attempted a roughly 55-yard field goal there but instead comes up empty.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:49 AM GMT+1
Golden hauls it in with one hand!Texas gets its first first down with Matthew Golden’s unbelievable one-handed grab on the sideline.
Early candidate for catch of the day?
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM GMT+1
Cotton Bowl kickoffIt’s a touchback and Texas starts with the ball at its own 25.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM GMT+1
Ohio State wins the toss, defersTexas will receive the opening kickoff. A spot in the national title game on the line. Here we go.
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:37 AM GMT+1
Fans braved the weatherDespite a very unusual snowstorm in the Dallas area in the days leading up to tonight’s game, both fan bases showed out for the Cotton Bowl.
This is probably not the best photo, but there’s a very healthy amount of Ohio State fans here. Buckeye fans were able to make the trip after all. pic.twitter.com/KZSUZo61hL
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) January 11, 2025
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:25 AM GMT+1
College Football Playoff players to watch, key to the Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas
Click on the photo to read the story. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:16 AM GMT+1
Is the Deep South’s college football reign over?
Click on the photo to read the story. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 1:08 AM GMT+1
‘He’s generational’: Inside Jeremiah Smith’s path to stardom at Ohio State
Click the photo above to read the story. (Melinda Meijer/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 12:59 AM GMT+1
After another devastating loss in a big game, will James Franklin and Penn State ever recover?
Click the photo above to read the story. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 12:52 AM GMT+1
The 5 key plays from Notre Dame’s win over Penn State at Orange Bowl
Click on the photo to read the story. (Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 12:45 AM GMT+1
Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter declares for NFL Draft after Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame
Click the photo above to read the story. (David Rosenblum/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM GMT+1
Georgia QB Carson Beck commits to Miami for final season of college football
Click on the photo to read the story. (Rich von Biberstein/Getty Images)
Sat, January 11, 2025 at 12:36 AM GMT+1
Good evening folks and welcome to our live tracker for the College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Texas!
We still have about an hour before kickoff, so here’s some light reading material while we wait for the action to start.
