Texas Longhorns 28 vs 14 Ohio State Buckeyes live online: stats, scores and highlights | Goodyear Cotton Bowl
The Longhorns would respond driving down the field and getting a 1st and Goal at the 1 yard line after back to back pass interference penalties, but a seven yard loss on a pitch play to Quintrevion Wisner back Texas up and on 4th down, Captain Jack Sawyer comes up with one of the biggest plays in Ohio State football history. He sacked his old roommate and scooped the fumble before taking it 82 yards for the TD to punch the Buckeye's ticket to the National Championship.
Judkins punched the go ahead touchdown in from a yard out after a 13 play, 88 yard drive that took over half of the final quarter. Judkins had just 9 carries but he took those nine carries for 36 yard and two TDs as the Buckeyes totaled 82 yards on the ground.
The Longhorns would tie the game up eventually with Quinn Ewers 26 yard pass to Jaydon Blue for their second TD connection of the night. The former Ohio State Buckeye went for 283 yards and two TDs on 23/39 passing but he was on the wrong side of the play of the night with just minutes to go.
The Buckeyes had all the wind in their sails coming out of the break, but David Gbenda came up with an interception that turned the tides early in the third quarter. The Longhorns couldn't covert that turnover into points but that kept OSU from stretching the lead out to a two possession advantage.
On the next play from scrimmage the Buckeyes were probably looking to play conservatively with under 30 seconds to go. The play wasn't too risky, but TreVeyon Henderson found a hole and broke it for a 75 yard run to take the momentum into the halftime break. Howard had 289 yards and 1 TD with one INT on 24/33 passing to lift his team over the Longhorns and punch their ticket to the National Championship.
The Longhorns offense took a little while to wake up and they were battling bad field position for the first two quarters but they finally got the ball around midfield late in the second quarter. With a short field Quinn Ewers hit Jaydon Blue for the first of his two TDs to draw level with Ohio State right before the halftime break.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are heading to the College Football Playoff National Championship after taking down the Texans Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl from Arlington. Jack Sawyer had the game winning scoop and score late in the fourth quarter to give his team the 28-14 semifinal win.
Ohio State started the game doing what they had done in the first two playoff games, starting out strong and looking for a knock out punch early. They stopped Texas on the opening drive of the game and then marched down the field and put the first points on the board with Quishon Judkins's 9 yard run.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Buckeyes are heading to the National Championship and they are going because of their captain's 82 yard scoop and score.
Howard with a QB sneak for a first down and that's going to do it!!
Judkins gets 9 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 1 from the TEX 32.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Ewers is picked off by Downs on this pass over the middle and that is going to do it!!!
OSU take over and they are a first down away from the National Championship!
Ewers throw to Blue up the right sideline is high and incomplete.
3rd and 4 from the TEX 31.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING HERE FROM ARLINGTON!!!
TEX get the ball back from their 25 and Ewers hits Blue out of the backfield for 6 yards.
2nd and 4 for the TEX 31.
One of the biggest plays in College Football Playoff history and it might be what sends the Buckeyes to the National Championship.
Sawyer was Ewers roommate when Ewers was at Ohio State and on the biggest game of both of their lives, they are involved on the biggest play of the night.
TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE!!!!
Ewers got strip sacked by Sawyer who came off the edge and jarred that ball out, scooped it and took it all the way to the house for an 82 yard run back!!!
OSU lead 28-14 with 2:13 to go!!!
Ewers goes to the corner of the end zone but his pass got deflected on the way out and it comes out short of the WR.
4th and Goal from the 8.
Pitch to the left side for Wisner and the Buckeyes sniffed that out and dropped him for a loss of 7 yards!!
3rd and Goal from the 8.
Gibson gets the handoff and he is stopped for no gain.
2nd and Goal from the 1.
Slant from Golden in the end zone and he got taken down and another flag flies.
1st and Goal from the 1.
Ewers goes to the back of the end zone for Wingo and a flag flies for PI after he got dragged down to the ground.
1st and Goal from the 2.
Out route from Wisner and he makes the catch for 5 yards.
3rd and 3 from the 6.
Blue with the run to the right side for 2 yards on first down.
2nd and 8 form the OSU 11.
Ewers with another beautiful pas to the right side this time for Golden who reels it in for the 27 yards inside the 15!
1st and 10 from the OSU 13.
Touch pass to Helm on the left sideline and he takes it 34 yards down the left side and finished it off with a stiff arm, but he pointed at the defender and a flag flies for taunting.
1st and 10 from the OSU 40.
Blue to the left side and he moves the chains with a gain of yards.
1st and 10 from the TEX 41.
TEX get the ball from their 25 yard line and Ewers finds Helm on the out route to the right side for a gain of 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the TEX 33.
TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE!!!
The Buckeyes take the lead with a one yard run from Judkins after an 88 yard drive that took more than half the quarter.
OSU lead 21-14 with 7:02 to go.
Howard on the QB keeper and he is dragged down right at the goal line but short of the end zone.
2nd and Goal from the 1.
Judkins to the left side and he cuts up field for a gain of five yards.
1st and Goal from the TEX 3.
Howard finds Egbuka over the middle for a gain of 8 yards on first down.
2nd and 2 from the TEX 8.
Howard with the QB keeper and he broke it into the secondary and had a clear path to the end zone but tripped over his own two feet! He still got 18 yards but that could have been a TD.
1st and 10 from the TEX 16.
TIMEOUT TEX!!!
OSU kept the offense on the field and the Longhorns weren't ready for it. TO with 9:50 to go in the 4th quarter!
After a false start on OSU, Howard hits Scott on the crossing route and he makes the catch and fights for 7 yards but he is short of the marker.
4th and 2 from the TEX 34.
Howards with the catch over them middle for a gain of 6 yards to bring up 3rd and medium.
3rd and 4 from the TEX 36.
Ewers over the middle for Tate and that pass was too far out in front of him.
2nd and 10 from the TEX 42.
Howard finds Judkins out of the backfield and he lowers his shoulders and moves the chains with an 11 yard pick up.
1st and 10 form the TEX 42.
Howard's pass deep down the right side came in high and couldn't be caught by Egbuka.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 47.
Howard off his back foot and he finds Tate on the left side for an 18 yard gain and a first down!!
1st and 10 from the OSU 47.
Short pass to Scott on the right side and he makes the catch for 4 yards.
3rd and 8 from he OSU 29.
Pass to the flat for Scott on the right side and he is cut down for a loss of 2 yards.
2nd and 12 from the OSU 25.
Howard's pass to Egbuka deep down the right side is incomplete but a flag flies for pass interference on TEX.
1st and 10 from the OSU 27.
Out route from Golden to the right side but that pass from Ewers was a little to high and hits off the WR's hands.
4th and 5 from the TEX 44 and the Longhorns will punt.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FINAL QUARTER HERE FROM ARLINGTON!!!
Ewers to Wisner in the flat but he is dropped for a loss of 2 yards.
3rd and 5 from the TEX 44.
TEX take over from their 39 and Wisner goes to the left side before cutting back to the middle for a 7 yard pick up.
2nd and 3 from the TEX 46.
Howard's pass to the left side is batted in the air at the line and falls incomplete.
4th and 15 from the OSU with 1:10 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Henderson up the right side and he picks up 5 yards to bring up 3rd and forever.
3rd and 15 from the OSU 20.
Pressure up the middle and Broughton drops Howard for a 10 yard loss!
2nd and 20 from the OSU 15.
OSU get the ball back from their 25 and Howard finds Tate for a 15 yard pick up to start the drive, but a late hit after the play is going to back the Buckeyes up 15 yards.
1st and 10 from the OSU 25.
It's all square from Arlington after Ewers hits Blue for their second TD connection!! We had a good one last night and this one looks like it might just come down to the wire as well.
After the Buckeyes got a late TD at the end of the first half, they started the second half with the ball but David Gbenda picked off Howard to prevent Ohio State from stretching their lead out. That drive didn't amount to anything after the turnover, but they did just tie it up with Blue's second TD catch of the night.
TOUCHDOWN TEXAS!!!
On 3rd and long Ewers goes to Blue on the wheel route out of the back field and he makes the catch, dances around a defender and he takes it into the end zone for a 26 yard TD!!!
It's all square at 14-14 with 3:12 to go in the third quarter!!!
Ewers over the middle and his pass is batted down at the line.
3rd and 7 from the OSU 26.
Wisner to the left side out of the shotgun and he gets three yards on first down
2nd and 7 from the OSU 26.
Wisner with another chain mover getting it out of the shot gun and taking it four yards.
1st and 10 from the OSU 29.
Ewers dumps it off to Wisner out of the backfield and he takes it up the left side for an 11 yard gain.
3rd and 1 from the OSU 33.
Wisner is dropped for a loss of two yards on the first down run.
2nd and 12 from the OSU 44.
Wisner moves the chains with a run up the middle for a gain of 4 yards.
1st and 10 from the OSU 42.
Ewers finds Moore Jr. in the flat for a WR screen but he is taken down after a gain of 2.
3rd and 3 from the OSU 46.
Ewers was under pressure and let it go for Blue in the flat and he takes it for 5 yards on the right side.
2nd and 5 from the OSU 48.
Ewers looked like he was sacked but he underhands it for Wisner right before his knee hit the ground and Wisner takes it for 14 yards for a first down!!
1st and 10 from the TEX 47.
Wisner to the left side and he picks up four yards.
3rd and 11 from the TEX 32.
Ewers to the left side for Wingo and that pass was almost picked by Hancock.
2nd and 15 from the TEX 28.
TEX get the ball back from their 33 but a false start backs them up five yards.
1st and 15 from the TEX 28.
Judkins gets the pitch to the left side and he is taken down short of the marker and the Buckeyes will punt with 8:30 to go in the 3rd quarter.
4th and 1 from the OSU 21.
Howard over the middle for Kacmarek for a 9 yard pitch and catch to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 1 from the OSU 21.
OSU get he ball back from their 12 yard line nad Egbuka gets the end around to the right side but he is chopped down at the line of scrimmage.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 21.
Short pass to Wisner out of the backfield and he is taken down after a short gain of 4 yards.
4th and 7 from the TEX 43 and they will punt with 10:48 to go in the third quarter.
Wisner gets the handoff out of the shotgun and he is hit in the backfield and losses two yards.
3rd and 11 from the TEX 39.
Wisner to the left side and he cuts it back for a short gain of 1.
2nd and 9 from the TEX 41.
Ewers to the left side for Wisner out of the backfield and he turns up field for a gain of 10 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the TEX 40.
INTERCEPTION!!!
Howard was under pressure and his pass over the middle is picked off by Gbenda!!! Big play by the TEX defense to start the second half!!!
1st and 10 from the TEX 30.
Henderson with a run up the middle and he runs downhill for a gain of 7 and a first down.
1st and 10 from the TEX 48.
Henderson to the right side and he picks up 7 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 3 fro the OSU 45.
OSU get the ball back after their late first half TD and they take over from their 25.
Howard rolls to the left side and finds Egbuka for a 13 yard pick up to start the half.
1st and 10 from the OSU 38.
WE ARE BACK IN ARLINGTON FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!
With less than a half a minute left in the half it looked like the Buckeyes were going to play it conservative but Henderson broke off a 75 yard screen pass to take the momentum back and give Ohio State the lead before the half.
Howard is 14/19 for 200 yards and a TD, and the Longhorns 36 yards on 11 carries at the halftime break.
The Longhorns finally got some good field position late in the first half and they took advantage of it with their first scoring drive of the game. Ewers found Jaydon Blue for this 18 yard TD pass to tie the game up with under a minute to go in the half. Ewers is 10/20 for 133 yards, and the Longhorns have 44 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Ohio State's defense made a stop on the opening drive of the game and Will Howard marched his team right down the field and set up this 9 yard run from Judkins for the game's opening score and it looked like the Buckeyes were going to land another knock out blow early on but TEX held on.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME!!!
Ewers Hail Mary to the end zone falls incomplete and that will do it for the first half!!!
Ewers to the left side for Wingo and he was held up by the defender which brings a PI flag on OSU.
1st and 10 from the TEX 48 with 2 seconds to go.
TEX take over from their 25 and Wisner gets 13 yards on the run to the right side.
1st and 10 from the TEX 38. TO TEX with 7 seconds to go.
TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE!!!
OSU take over from their 25 and Howard sets up a screen pass for Henderson who finds a hole and takes it to the house for a 75 yard TD right after TEX tied up the game!!!
OSU take the 14-7 lead with 13 seconds on the clock.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS!!!
Ewers lays out a beautiful pass for Blue up the left sideline for an 18 yard TD!!!
It's 7-7 with 29 seconds left in the first half!!!
Screen pass set up for Moore but that pass is batted down at the line.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 18 with 34 to go in the half.
Ewers to the left side for Bolden and he slips out of a tackle and takes it for a 24 yard gain before running out of bounds with 39 to go.
1st and 10 from the OSU 18.
They are going to take a look at the end of the run because the ball came out as Manning went to ground, but the play is going to stand.
The offense stays on the field and Manning comes out as QB and he runs to the right side and he takes it for 8 yards after the Longhorns lined up for a TE sneak.
1st and 10 from the OSU 42.
Ewers tucks it and runs up the middle and takes it for 9 yards at the 50 before taking a big hit!
He's going to be a half yard hot of the marker. 4th and 1 from the 5 coming up.
Ewers to Wisner out of the back field but he just threw that away with pressure in his face.
3rd and 10 from the TEX 41.
TEX get the ball back from their 41 with 1:52 to go and Wisner is dropped on the first down run for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the TEX 41.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM ARLINGTON!!
Howard is sacked by Hill Jr. up the middle and he losses 7 yards on the first TEX sack of the night.
4th and 17 from the OSU 20.
Howard's pass to the right side was batted at the line of scimmage and falls incomplete.
3rd and 10 from the OSU 27.
OSU take over from their 27 with 3:16 to go in the half.
Judkins is stopped for no gain on the first down run.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 27.
Ewers steps up in the pocket and hit Bond right in the numbers but he jumped up and dropped the ball right around mid field!
4th and 5 from the TEX 31.
Ewers goes deep for Moore over the middle but that pass was over thrown by two or three yards.
3rd and 5 from the TEX 30.
Winser to the left side and he gets 5 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 5 from the TEX 31.
Blue to the left side on the pitch and he takes it for 3 yards to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the TEX 26.
TEX get the ball back from their 15 and Ewers finds Bond over the middle for an 8 yard gain on first down.
2nd and 2 from the TEX 23.
After a false start backs up OSU 5 yards, Howard connects with Tate for 15 yards down the left sideline and the Buckeyes will punt.
4th and 3 from the OSU 42 with under 6:00 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Howard hits Scoot over the middle for a gain of 7 yards.
3rd and 13 from the OSU 32.
Pitch to the right side for Judkins and he got 10 yards but that run is coming back after a holding call on OSU.
2nd and 20 from the OSU 25.
OSU take over from their 35 and Henderson is stopped at the line of scrimmage for no gain.
2nd and 9 from the OSU 36.
Ewers pass down the left sideline for Wingo but that pass was behind him and falls incomplete. There was some contact from OSU but no flag flies.
4th and 6 from the TEX 24 and they will punt with 8:00 to go.
Ewers finds Moore with a quick pass to the left side and he is hit immediately for a short gain of 4.
3rd and 6 from the TEX 24.
Ewers looked to the right side for Helm who got crushed and couldn't hold on after the hit from Styles.
2nd and 10 from the TEX 20.
Wisner drives the pile for a gain of 4 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the TEX 20.
TEX get the ball back from their 9 and Wisner gets 7 yards up the right side to start the drive.
2nd and 3 from the TEX 16.
Howard fires a bullet over the middle for Egbuka but the coverage was excellent and the pass falls incomplete.
4th and 8 from the OSU 48 and they will punt with under 10:00 to go in the half.
Howard finds Kacmarek on the check down over the middle and he gets 12 yards to make it 3rd and shorter.
3rd and 8 from the OSU 48.
Howard to the right side for Smith on the WR screen that goes for a gain of 1, and a holding call on OSU will bring them back 10 yards.
2nd and 20 from the OSU 36.
TEX got pressure on Howard and he had to throw it away on the left sideline.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 46.
Tate makes the catch in the flat and he takes it for 5 yards and a first down on the left side.
1st and 10 from the OSU 46.
OSU take over from their 41 and Howards rolls left and finds Tate for 7 yards on first down.
2nd and 3 from the OSU 41.
Ewers got strip sacked by Styles off the edge and TEX was there to recover but they will punt on 4th and forever.
4th and 21 from the TEX 14.
Ewers over the middle for Moore for 10 yards to make it third and manageable.
3rd and 11 from the TEX 24.
Pass to the flat for Blue who was stopped for no gain, and a facemask penalty will bring TEX back 15 yards.
2nd and 21 from the TEX 14.
Winser is hit and the backfield and dropped for a loss of 1.
2nd and 11 from the TEX 24.
Great return from Bolden who almost broke it but had it stripped out of his hands luckily for him it bounced right back into his hands.
1st and 10 from the TEX 25.
The Buckeyes did what they have been doing for these entire playoffs. They got the ball and went straight down field and into the end zone! Judkins punched OSU to the end zone but Howard had a couple of big third down conversions to Egbuka along the way.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER FROM DALLAS!!!
Howard finds Judkins out of the backfield and that goes for 5 yards on the final play of the first quarter.
4th and 21 from the TEX 49.
Howard on the QB keeper and he is dropped for a loss of 2 yards.
3rd and 26 from the OSU 46.
An unsportsmanlike penalty on Henderson backs up OSU 15 yards after throwing a punch to a Longhorn defenders face.
2nd and 24 from the OSU 48.
Henderson up the middle and he is stopped after a gain of 1 on first down.
2nd and 9 from the TEX 37.
Howards over the middle and he sneaks it in for Scott on a 14 yard pitch and catch for a first down.
1st and 10 from the TEX 38.
Henderson with his first run of the day on the end around and he breaks through a tackle and he races down the left sideline for a gain of 22 yards.
1st and 10 from the OSU 48.
Howard rolls to the right side and he tucks it for 2 yards before running out of bounds.
2nd and 8 from the OSU 26.
Howard over the middle for Tate and he drags it in and turns for a 13 yard pick up and a first down.
1st and 10 from the OSU 24.
OSU get the ball back from their 8 yard line and HOward finds Smith in the flat and he takes it for 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the OSU 11.
After a false start on TEX, Ewers steps up in the pocked gets sacked again by Tuimoloau who has his second sack of the night and of the drive.
4th and 16 from the OSU 48. TEX will punt with 4:00 to go in the 1st quarter.
Run to the right side for Blue and he gets 3 yards.
3rd and 7 from the OSU 39.
Ewers to Winser but the pressure got to Ewers and forced an incomplete pass.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 42.
Screen pass set up for Wingo and he bursts up the hole and almost broke it but got tripped up after a 22 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the OSU from the 42.
Quick toss to the left side for Moore and he races up the field for a 15 yard catch and run.
1st and 10 from the TEX 36.
TEX get the ball back from their 25 and Ewers is dropped by Tuimoloau for a loss of four to start the drive!
2nd and 14 from the TEX 21.
TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE!!!
Judkins made a move in the backfield and explodes to the end zone for a 9 yard TD run for the first points of the game!
OSU lead 7-0 with 7:24 to go in the first quarter!!!
Howard hit Tate in the hands after the play action and the WR dropped it in the end zone.
2nd and Goal from the 9.
Howard over the middle again, and again it's Egbuka who reels it in for a gain of 14 yards and a first down inside the 10.
1st and Goal from the 9.
Howards finds Egbuka over the middle who sat down in the soft spot of the zone and picked up 11 yards to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the TEX 23.
Judkins with the run to the right side out of the shotgun and he gets 4 yards.
3rd and 6 from the TEX 34.
Howard's pass to Smith deep down the right side was a little too high for the WR inside the 5 yard line.
2nd and 10 from the TEX 38.
Howard finds Tate with a dart on the right side for a gain of 14 yards and another first down.
1st and 10 from the TEX 38.
Howard going to the air for the first time and he finds Egbuka on a short pass on the out route to the right side for a gain of 5.
1st and 10 from the OSU 48.
Back to Judkins and he is stopped after a two yard gain on the run up the middle.
3rd and 3 from the OSU 43.
OSU take over from their 36 and Judkins gets the handoff to the right side and he takes it for 5 yards.
2nd and 5 from the OSU 41.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
Ewers pass to Moore Jr. was low and that skips off the turf to force TEX to an early turnover on downs!!
OSU ball from their 36 three minutes into this game.
Winser is stopped on the run out of the shotgun for a short gain of 1.
4th and 3 from the OSU 36.
Ewers to the air but his pass over the middle is tipped and batted down at the line.
3rd and 4 from the OSU 37.
Wingo with the run on first down and he gets 6 yards on the end around to the left side.
2nd and 4 from the OSU 37.
Ewers goes deep to Golden on the right side line and he makes a one handed snag for a gain of 24 yards and a first down!
1st and 10 from the OSU 43.
Winser with the carry to the left side and he gets four yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 2 from the TEX 33.
Ewers goes to the air and finds Davis in the flat for a gain of 4 to start the night.
2nd and 6 from the TEX 29.
The Buckeyes won the toss and differed to the second half so here comes Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns starting the game from their 25.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS TEXAS!!!!
Full weekend of football
Remember, this is just one of two CFP semifinals this week. After Notre Dame’s big win over Penn State the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes match up tonight in the Cotton Bowl from Dallas. That will lead us into a two game NFL playoff slate on Saturday featuring the Chargers vs. Texans and Steeles vs. Ravens. Sunday we have the Broncos vs. Bills, Packers vs. Eagles and Commanders vs. Buccaneers. We will finish the football frenzy with a Monday Night match up between the Vikings and the Rams and remember you can follow all the action right here on AS English.
Rest vs. Rust
This is the first time we have seen the 12 team playoff, and there is a lot to digest after the first few weeks. It’s tough for the NCAA to get everything right on the first attempt, and heading into the semifinals we see no teams that had a first round bye still alive in the CFP. The teams that were supposed to be favorites and have the advantage of getting the BYE week, looked rusty and were eventually knocked out. This will be Notre Dame and Penn State’s third game since the end of their “season” and it seems like these teams are back in midseason form after basically starting a new season three weeks ago. These playoffs have shown us rust is winning in the rust vs. rest debate.
Star watch: Ohio State
Since Will Howard’s nightmare ending to the loss against Oregon in the regular season, he has been one of the best QBs in the nation. He’s beaten two top five teams, throwing 18 TDs and just six INTs and in the last two games playoff games he has thrown for 630 yards with five TDs and one INTs. This season he has 3,490 yards and 32 TDs with just 9 INTs, but he always shows up when his team needs him. He is the leader of this team and they will need him to lead the Buckeyes into the National Championship tonight in Dallas.
Star watch: Texas
The Longhorns have been one of the top teams in the country all season long, and in their first year in a new conference it’s been Drew Ewers leading the way for Texas. He has had to deal with a couple injuries throughout the year so his numbers aren’t up there with the top QBs in the nation, but when the big games come around he always shows up. He had 322 yards and three TDs in the last game against ASU, and went for 358 and a TD in the SEC Championship game. Ewers had thrown for 3,189 yards, 29 TDs and 11 INTs and tonight the Longhorns are going to need him to be at his best in the biggest game of the season.
Season recap: Texas
The Longhorns, like the Buckeyes entered the season in the top 5 in the preseason polls, and they rolled through the regular season in their first year in the SEC, except when they had to play the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs beat them in Texas during the regular season and then Texas met Georgia again in the SEC Championship and they would end lose to the Bulldogs in overtime. They controlled Clemson in the first of their playoff games, but barley survived the overtime scare against Arizona State. Now they are a win away from returning to the title game for the first time since 2009.
Season recap: Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes came into the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the preseason polls and rattled off five straight wins to start the season as Will Howard led his team to blow out win after blow out win, but they would lose a heart breaker to No. 3 ranked Oregon and suffered their first defeat of the season after Howard made a costly time management mistake at the end of the game. They would win their next five games including two wins against top 5 opponents, but inexplicably lost to their bitter rivals Michigan on the final game of the regular season. They got into the playoff off, and met Clemson first before getting their revenge against Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Now they have a chance to get back to the National Championship for the first time for the second time in five years. This time they will look to win it all.
Last game: Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes took on an Oregon team that came into the College Football Playoffs as the Big Ten Champions and the No. 1 ranked team in the country, but the Buckeyes jumped all over them from the start. They scored on six of their first seven possessions, and took a 34-0 lead in the second quarter as Will Howard tossed all of his three TDs passes in the opening three minutes. Oregon scored TDs on each of their drives on both sides of the halftime break to cut into the lead but TreVeyon Henderson stretch the lead out with a TD run late in the 3rd quarter to make it 41-15 and the Buckeyes downed the top team in the playoff to set up this semifinal match up against the Longhorns.
Last game: Texas
It was a New Year’s Day showdown between the Texas Longhorns and the Arizona State Sun Devils and it was an overtime thriller in the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl. The Longhorns got off to a 17-3 lead as the Arizona State offense struggled to move the ball. Quinn Ewers hit DeAndre Moore with an early first quarter touchdown and then Silas Bolden took a 75 yard punt return to the house, but ASU would battle back on the shoulders of their running back Cam Skattebo who passed and ran for a TD in the fourth quarter to tie the game up at 24-24. After Bert Auburn missed a 38 yard field goal to win the game at the last second of regulation, Scattebow scored a three yard TD in OT, but Ewers answered back with a deep pass to Matthew Golden to even up the score. In the second OT session Ewers put the Longhorns ahead with a 25 yard TD pass to Gunnar Helm and that was enough to close the Sun Devils and stamp their ticket to the Semifinal.
We are live from AT&T Stadium
Hello everyone and welcome to Dallas, Texas where to teams who were ranked in the top five of the preseason polls have delivered all year long, and are now one game away from the National Championship. Both of these two teams had to go through the first two rounds of the new 12 team College Football Playoff after finishing outside of the top four, and both teams have used their high flying offenses to get them to this point of the season. Expect fireworks tonight as Will Howard and the Buckeyes take on Drew Ewers and the Longhorns in a highly anticipated semifinal from the Lone Star State.
Texas vs. Ohio State
The second and final spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship is up for grabs tonight from Dallas. Two perennial power houses meet in a clash of titans from AT&T Stadium as the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes square off in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and AS English will be with you all night long providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s semifinal match up.