Ohio State vs. Texas history is limited, but College Football Playoff foes have played for high stakes before

USATSI

The Cotton Bowl pits two of college football’s most iconic brands against each other as Ohio State and Texas will tangle Friday night for a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Texas claims four national championships and Ohio State claims eight. But the historic powers have only met three times previously and never in a postseason game with such high stakes. The CFP semifinal showdown will mark the first meeting since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. 

Regardless of how it plays out, the loser won’t have to wait long for a rematch.

Ohio State and Texas are set to open the 2025 season against each other in a marquee Week 1 showdown on Aug. 30 at Ohio Stadium. It will be the first leg of a home-and-home series that was pushed back from its originally scheduled dates in 2022 and 2023. Texas will then host the Buckeyes in Week 2 of the 2026 season to conclude the series.

All three of the prior meetings came in a span of four seasons in the 2000s when both programs were led by national-title winning coaches and operating at or near the top of the sport on an annual basis. One of them turned out to be especially consequential to the eventual national title picture that season.

Here’s a look back at the limited history of the the Ohio State-Texas series. Each meeting, Friday’s included, has come with both teams ranked in the top 10.

Highly anticipated first dance

No. 2 Texas rallied for a dramatic 25-22 win over No. 4 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium during the first-ever meeting between the programs in Week 2 of the 2005 season. Vince Young found Limas Sweed for a 24-yard…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ohio-state-vs-texas-history-is-limited-but-college-football-playoff-foes-have-played-for-high-stakes-before/

Author : David Cobb

Publish date : 2025-01-09 15:06:00

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