College Football Playoff Semifinal: Ohio State vs. Texas

One spot in the College Football Playoff national championship has been secured, and another is up for grabs in The Lone Star State on Friday.

To decide who will meet No. 7 Notre Dame in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, No. 5 Texas and No. 8 Ohio State will clash in the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal at 7:30 p.m. ET inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This is the first meeting between both programs since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.

Ryan Day and Ohio State had to beat No. 9 Tennessee in the first round and No. 1 Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals to reach the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes’ 41-21 win at the Rose Bowl avenged their Week 7 loss, with star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith shining with 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.

On the other hand, Steve Sarkisian and No. 5 Texas had to beat No. 12 Clemson in the first round and No. 4 Arizona State in the CFP Peach Bowl quarterfinal. In the Peach Bowl, quarterback Quinn Ewers connected with tight end Gunner Helm for a game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

If Ohio State wins, they will make their third appearance in the CFP national title game since 2014. On the other hand, if Texas emerges victorious, it will mark their first appearance in the CFP national title game.

Follow along for live scores, updates, and highlights of the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal between Ohio State and Texas.

Ohio State vs. Texas Score Updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Texas avoids disaster on a punt return, as the ball bounces back into the hands of Silas Bolden after initially falling out. The Longhorns will start at their own 25-yard line, trailing Ohio State 7-0 at the start of the second quarter.

Texas’ slow start continues, as the Longhorns are forced to punt on their second drive of the night.

Facing a third-and-12, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator dials up the blitz and continues to attack Texas’ offensive line. The call leads to a 4-yard sack on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, the second of the night.

Ohio State takes over at its 8-yard line after a 40-yard punt, leading 7-0 with 4:19 remaining in the first quarter.

Quinshon Judkins bulldozes his way through the Texas defense into the end zone for the first points of the night. It is the 11th rushing touchdown of the season for the Buckeyes running back.

A great opening drive and start by Ryan Day and Ohio State: 10 plays for 64 yards and 2-for-2 on third-down conversions. Buckeyes lead 7-0 with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Steve Sarkisian’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-3 at the Ohio State 36-yard line backfires, as Quinn Ewers’ pass intended for DeAndre Moore Jr. falls short.

An early spot for Ohio State’s defense, who hands the ball to Will Howard and the Buckeyes’ offense for the first time tonight.

Matthew Golden comes up with an impressive one-handed catch on a slant route to pick up a first down for Texas on third-and-2.

The Buckeyes win the coin toss and defer the kickoff to the second half. Texas’ offense will lead off the 2025 Cotton Bowl!

After missing the Peach Bowl, Texas’ Matthew McConaughey is back on the sidelines rooting for the Longhorns in their CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal.

The doors are open for fans to enter AT&T Stadium for Friday’s CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal. Kickoff between Texas and Ohio State is less than two hours away!

Wintry weather has subsided in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Arlington Police Department urges Cotton Bowl attendees to drive safely and watch out for ice.

Ohio State vs. Texas Time Today

• Date: Friday, Jan. 10
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)

The Buckeyes and Longhorns will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 10 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in the College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl semifinal.

What Channel is Ohio State vs. Texas Game On Today?

ESPN will broadcast Friday’s College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl semifinal between Ohio State and Texas. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Ohio State vs. Texas History

• Series record: Texas leads 2-1
• Ohio State’s last win: 2006 (24-7)
• Texas’ last win: 2009 (24-21)

Friday’s meeting between Ohio State and Texas will be the fourth all-time meeting between both programs, and the first since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. Texas leads the all-time series against the Buckeyes 2-1.

Ohio State vs. Texas Predictions

Here are some predictions for Friday’s CFP semifinal between Ohio State and Texas:

• Bill Rabinowitz, The Dispatch: Ohio State 35, Texas 28
• Joey Kaufman, The Dispatch: Ohio State 27, Texas 21
• Rob Oller, The Dispatch: Texas 27, Ohio State 21
• Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman: Texas wins
• David Eckert, Austin American-Statesman: Ohio State 31, Texas 24
• Caleb Yum, Austin American-Statesman: Ohio State 37, Texas 35

Ohio State vs. Texas Betting Odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday, Jan. 1

• Spread: Ohio State -6
• Over/Under: 53.5
• Moneyline: Ohio State (-250) | Texas (+195)

Ohio State vs. Texas Injury Updates

This section will be updated.

Ohio State vs. Texas Weather Update

The weather forecast for Arlington, Texas on Friday shows a temperature of 36 degrees and cloudy conditions at 7 p.m. ET. Snow showers are expected to end by 3 a.m. ET. However, since AT&T Stadium is fully enclosed, the weather won’t impact the game.

College Football Playoff News

Here are some pregame reads surrounding the College Football Playoffs.

Ohio State Football Schedule 2024

Check out Ohio State’s schedule in 2024 along with past scores and results.

Texas Football Schedule 2024

Here’s a look at Texas’ schedule in 2024, with details of past scores and results.

Don’t forget to stay updated on the latest news and updates from the College Football Playoff semifinals between Ohio State and Texas!