It has been quite the ride through two games in the College Football Playoff for Ohio State with complete and total domination against Tennessee and Oregon. After the poor performance to end the season, some may have had a sliver of hope that the Buckeyes could make a run, but nobody could have seen this coming.
Now, Ryan Day and the Bucks prepare for Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Another tough task as Ohio State must play the Longhorns in their own backyard with Dallas being just a short three-hour drive from Austin. And of course, the last time the Buckeyes went to the Cotton Bowl, it didn’t end well. But this is a vastly different team. And very different from the version we witnessed in the regular season. What we are seeing now is what we all thought we would see when this senior class decided to return … and it has been some kind of fun.
The question remains … Can Ohio State keep playing at such a high level or will they come crashing back to earth in the Lonestar State? Time to get ready for a College Football Playoff semifinal and the Texas Longhorns.
Records and Broadcast Information
Records
Ohio State (12-2), Texas (13-2)
Broadcast Information
Date | Friday, January 10Game Time | 7:30 p.m. ETNetwork | ESPNVenue | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Capacity – 80,000All-Time Series | Texas leads 2-1Last Meeting | Texas defeated Ohio State 24-21 in 2009 (Fiesta Bowl)
Ohio State potential game plan for victory
The Texas Longhorns have been a highly ranked team all season long, even spending several weeks with the No. 1 ranking. However, did the Longhorns get the benefit of the doubt by moving to the SEC this year? Yes, we know Texas put a beatdown on Michigan in Ann Arbor, the same Michigan that stymied Ohio State, but that was early in the season. When the Horns faced a similar ranked opponent in Georgia, twice they couldn’t get the job done. That’s not to say Texas isn’t a formidable foe, but we just don’t know how formidable.
The Longhorns have a similar blueprint for success compared to the Buckeyes. Both teams are stingy on defense and can light up the scoreboard on offense.
Texas has some real space-eaters on the defensive line. Rushing yards don’t come easy against the front four in burnt orange. The defense gives up just a little over 100 yards per game on the ground and has allowed only 13 rushing touchdowns.
The unit can get after the quarterback as well, led by freshman Colin Simmons who has tallied nine sacks on the season. This is the same Colin Simmons who beat out Jeremiah Smith for Freshman of the Year. The line will need to work its magic once again as it did against Tennessee and Oregon to keep Will Howard upright. But Chip Kelly’s playcalling has done this just as well. Getting the ball to the OSU skill players quickly has kept the pressure off Howard and will again be the key to Ohio State’s success.
While the Buckeyes have not abandoned the run, Kelly is now setting the running game up with the pass. This is a change that we’ve seen in the postseason. After the Michigan loss, Ryan Day said “You can’t completely abandon the run.” and he wasn’t wrong. But hitting receivers on short pass plays and letting them create has opened up the running game that wasn’t all that consistent during the regular season.
Defensively, Jim Knowles has stepped up his game plans as well. The OSU defense has been excellent all year long but has really come on strong in the playoffs. Quarterback Quinn Ewers can spin it, but he’s not quite as mobile as the past two quarterbacks the Buckeyes have faced which should have this defense salivating. Against Tennessee and Oregon, the Ohio State defense had a combined 12 sacks. One of the Longhorn’s best offensive linemen, Cam Williams, is dealing with a knee sprain and is questionable for the game which would make Ewers even more vulnerable.
Against both the Vols and the Ducks, Knowles was able to confuse the opposing quarterbacks. Caleb Downs was roaming everywhere and receivers couldn’t get open … at least not before the defensive line would get home. Steve Sarkisian is a great offensive mind and he may have something to counter, but at this point, the Buckeye defense is creating chaos at every level.
We’ve said it all year long, if you can win the trenches, you have a really good shot at winning the game. Ohio State has done that better than any team in the playoff thus far and it looks to have the same advantage again in the matchup with Texas.
Key Offensive Player for Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka – Wide Receiver
It seems a forgone conclusion that Jeremiah Smith is going to get his. But at some point, the defense is going to key in on Smith and leave senior Emeka Egbuka to do damage. There are just too many weapons to cover all the stars on this Ohio State offense. Egbuka has been somewhat overshadowed by Jeremiah Smith this season, but he’s held his own with 70 receptions for nearly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. He could be in line for a big game against the Longhorns.
Key Defensive Player for Ohio State
Tyleik Williams – Defensive Tackle
Tyleik Williams might be the unsung hero of this Ohio State defense. He eats up space making it difficult to run in the middle and he’s unblockable at times disrupting the quarterback. With Texas dealing with a banged-up line, Williams could wreak havoc in the Longhorn backfield. If it’s not him, he’ll take on double teams and allow the ends to get to Ewers.
The Prediction
It seems odd that Ohio State is still playing football after two postseason games. But this is a new era of college football and we’re only halfway to crowning a champion. It would be easy to listen to all the national media and the praise being heaped on this team, but the Buckeyes know the job isn’t done yet.
Texas is playing up the underdog role and will be ready to play. The Horns might even have a bit of a chip on their shoulder as everyone seems to feel an Ohio State win is a foregone conclusion.
The Buckeyes are playing at a level that is literally unstoppable but this is virtually a home game for Texas. That alone can keep things close for the Longhorns. However, as long as Ohio State hasn’t bought into the premature crowning, Texas won’t have the gas to hang with the Bucks for four quarters. The men in Scarlet and Gray pull away in the second half to secure their place in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff championship game.
Final Score
Ohio State 38, Texas 20
Line: Ohio State -5.5
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Texas complete Cotton Bowl CFP preview and prediction
