College Football Playoff players to watch, key to the Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas

Whoever wins the Cotton Bowl on Friday night will be the favorite to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game 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

How these teams got here

Ohio State is the favorite to win the College Football Playoff after it has blistered its opponents by a combined score of 83-38 in the first two rounds. The Buckeyes dominated Tennessee at home in a 42-17 win before blitzing Oregon in the first half of their 41-21 Rose Bowl victory. Ohio State led 31-0 midway through the second quarter in that game.

Texas had a bit more drama in its Peach Bowl matchup. The Longhorns coughed up a 24-8 lead in the fourth quarter as Arizona State turned a 16-point deficit into a tied game in just over five minutes. The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime after Texas missed a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. Texas scored on the first play of the second overtime and then defensive back Andrew Mukuba sealed the game with an interception for a 39-31 win. Before beating Arizona State, the Longhorns beat Clemson 38-24 at home.

How the QBs stack up

As Ohio State has dominated its opponents, Will Howard is playing the best football of his Ohio State career. Howard was 24-of-29 passing for 311 yards and two touchdowns against the Volunteers and also added 37 rushing yards. Against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Howard was 17-of-26 passing for 319 yards and three scores. Howard had thrown for over 300 yards just once this season before the College Football Playoff began. Overall, he’s 268-of-369 passing for 3,490 yards and 32 TDs with nine interceptions and has also rushed for seven more scores.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers has had a bit of an uneven season….

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-08 16:04:00

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