Ohio State vs. Texas: Who Will Stop the Title Drought?

Ohio State and Texas Prepare for CFP Semifinal

As Ohio State and Texas gear up for their highly anticipated Cotton Bowl semifinal, both teams are focused on ending their prolonged titles droughts. For Ohio State, it has been since 2014 since their last national championship, while Texas has not lifted the trophy since 2005.

The No. 8 Buckeyes (12-2) are coming off dominant victories, outscoring No. 9 Tennessee and No. 1 Oregon 83-38 in the earlier rounds of the College Football Playoff (CFP). Meanwhile, the No. 5 Longhorns (13-2) recently displayed impressive resilience in a thrilling double-overtime victory against No. 4 Arizona State, winning 39-31.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a venue just over 200 miles from the University of Texas campus in Austin.

The Road to the Cotton Bowl

This matchup marks the first encounter since January 2009, where Texas claimed a 24-21 victory in the Fiesta Bowl. The stakes are high—both teams are aiming for a shot at the national title, with the winner moving on to face No. 7 Notre Dame on January 20.

Injury Updates and Fan Anticipation

Both teams are facing various injuries, which could impact their performance. This week, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has experienced challenging weather conditions, including snow and ice, potentially affecting fan attendance and travel to the stadium.

Nevertheless, anticipation in the air is palpable. Fans are slowly filling AT&T Stadium, preparing to support their teams in what promises to be a thrilling clash.

Historical Context and Predictions

The series record currently stands in favor of Texas, 2-1, with Texas earning the last win in 2009. Predictions are split, with some experts leaning towards Ohio State edging out a close victory, while others believe Texas may continue to ride their momentum from previous games.

As game time approaches, excitement builds. This Cotton Bowl semifinal could very well be the stage for one program to take a significant step closer to ending its championship drought.