Cotton Bowl live updates: Score, highlights for Ohio State-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. Friday’s CFP semifinal is the first meeting between both programs since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.

Watch Ohio State vs. Texas in CFP semifinal live with Fubo (free trial)

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 was a bit of a sweet one for Ohio State, as it got vengeance for their Week 7 loss. Star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had a monster day against the Ducks, finishing with 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.

Conversely, 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 what was a back-and-forth Peach Bowl affair for the Longhorns, quarterback Quinn Ewers hit tight end Gunner Helm for a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime to win the game.

If Ohio State is able to come out on top Friday, the Buckeyes will make their third appearance in the national title game since the CFP started in 2014. If Texas is able to pick up its 10th win this season in the state of Texas, the Longhorns will be playing for their first CFP national title.

With that, follow along for live scores, updates and highlights of Friday’s CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal between Ohio State and Texas:

REQUIRED READING:Notre Dame reaches College Football Playoff title game with late field goal against Penn State

Ohio State vs Texas score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins

TEAMS1Q2Q3Q4QFOhio State70———Texas00———

Ohio State vs Texas Cotton Bowl live updates

This section has been updated with new information

Second quarter: Ohio State 7, Texas 0

Ohio State punts again

Self-inflicted penalties continue to set back Ohio State on offense, and ultimately force the Buckeyes to punt for the third consecutive drive.

Facing a third-and-18, Will Howard threw a 15-yard pass to Carnell Tate to the left sideline, but Tate was a few yards short of the first down.

ESPN’s telecast showed Ryan Day frustrated on the Buckeyes sideline at several parts of their last drive. Buckeyes’ penalties keeping Longhorns in the game, only down 7-0 with under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Ohio State Will Howard has a contusion on his left (non-throwing) hand

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard has a giant knot on his non-throwing hand, as shown on ESPN’s telecast. ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that Ohio State’s medical staff is not sure when it happened and that Howard is not complaining about it or receiving treatment.

Texas’ Matthew Golden heads to locker room

Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden heads to the locker room after a brief trip to the medical tent.

ESPN’s Laura Rutledge reported that Texas’ training staff was looking at his ankle on the sideline before heading to the locker room. Golden was hit with a facemask penalty on second-and-11 on Texas’ last drive.

REQURIED READING:Matthew Golden injury update: Texas receiver leaves Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State

Quinn Ewers sacked, Texas punts again

Ohio State once again sends six defensive players on third-and-11 at Quinn Ewers, and the Buckeyes immediately sack the Longhorns quarterback for a loss of 10 yards. The Buckeyes looked to have had an opportunity for their first turnover of the night, as Sonny Styles stripped the ball out of Ewers’ hand but the Longhorns recovered.

Ohio State will start at its 34-yard line with a first-and-10 after a 51 yard punt.

Texas recovers fumble on punt return

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

End of first quarter: Ohio State 7, Texas 0

Ohio State sacks Quinn Ewers

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 defensive coordinator Jim Knowles dials up the blitz and continues to attack Texas’ offensive line. Knowles’ 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.

Ohio State takes lead with touchdown

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 downs conversions. Buckeyes lead 7-0 with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Texas turns it over on downs

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

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

Matthew Golden with big catch for Texas

Stay hot Matthew Golden! The Longhorns wide receiver comes up with an impressive one-handed catch on the slant route to pick up the first down for Texas on third-and-2.

Pregame

Ohio State wins coin toss

The Buckeyes win the coin toss and elect to defer the kickoff to the second half. It will be Quinn Ewers and Texas’ offense up first in the 2025 Cotton Bowl!

Matthew McConaughey in attendance at Cotton Bowl

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

REQUIRED READING:Alabama’s Nick Saban named to College Football Hall of Fame on ESPN’s “College GameDay”

AT&T Stadium packed for Cotton Bowl

We’re just a few minutes away from kickoff at the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State. AT&T Stadium looks rather packed and evenly split between the fan bases, despite the proximity to Texas’ campus and the winter weather that hit the Dallas-Forth Worth area throughout the week.

Did Quinn Ewers play at Ohio State?

Yes, Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers began his collegiate career at Ohio State. The 6-foot-2 quarterback spent one season with the Buckeyes in 2021 before transferring to the Longhorns. Ewers was ranked the No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings.

“I don’t regret any decision I’ve made on going,” Ewers told reporters ahead of the Cotton Bowl. “… The reason I came back to Texas was one, to be closer to where I’m from, and just closer to the resources that I have and the relationships that I’ve built over time just being from Texas.”

Who would Ohio State or Texas play in CFP championship?

The winner of Friday’s Cotton Bowl between No. 5 Texas and No. 8 Ohio State will play No. 7 Notre Dame in the CFP championship game on Monday, Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Notre Dame upset No. 6 Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night thanks to the leg of Irish kicker Mitch Jeter, who hit a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The Irish scored 27 unanswered points after being in a early 10-0 deficit to the Nittany Lions.

Ohio State arrives at Cotton Bowl

Will Howard and the Buckeyes have arrived at AT&T Stadium for Friday night’s CFP semifinal showdown with No. 5 Texas. Howard comes into Friday’s Cotton Bowl in search of his first career win against Texas, as he was 0-3 against the Longhorns during his career at Kansas State.

Ryan Wingo starting over Isaiah Bond in Texas’ Cotton Bowl depth chart

As noted by Inside Texas on X (formerly Twitter), Longhorns true freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo was listed in front of Isaiah Bond at the X position in Texas’ depth chart that was handed out in the AT&T Stadium press box.

Wingo had two catches for 33 receiving yards in Texas’ Peach Bowl win over Arizona State.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas has arrived at Cotton Bowl

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian walks out of the tunnel at AT&T Stadium for his pregame on-the-field walk. Sarkisian brings a into 38-16 record at Texas into Friday’s Cotton Bowl.

Fans have entered Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium

According to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, the doors have opened 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!

Texas Cotton Bowl record

Texas is making its 23rd Cotton Bowl appearance on Friday, which ranks for the most Cotton Bowl appearances by one program, and first since 2003. The Longhorns are 11-10-1 all-time in the Cotton Bowl.

Here’s a look at past scores from the Longhorns’ last 10 Cotton Bowl appearances:

1972: Penn State 30, Texas 6
1973: Texas 17, Alabama 13
1974: Nebraska 19, Texas 3
1978: Notre Dame 38, Texas 10
1982: Texas 14, Alabama 12
1984: Georgia 10, Texas 9
1991: Miami 46, Texas 3
1999: Texas 38, Mississippi State 11
2000: Texas 27, Arkansas 7
2003: Texas 35, LSU 20

Ohio State Cotton Bowl record

Ohio State is making back-to-back appearances in the Cotton Bowl, as the Buckeyes appeared in the New Year’s Six bowl in the 2023 season vs. Missouri. The Buckeyes bring a 2-1 record at the Cotton Bowl into Friday’s CFP semifinal.

Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of how the Buckeyes have fared in past Cotton Bowls:

Jan. 1, 1987: Ohio State 28, Texas 12
Dec. 29, 2017: Ohio State 24, USC 7
Dec. 29, 2023: Missouri 14, Ohio State 3

REQUIRED READING:Why is Ohio State football playing Texas in Cotton Bowl for CFP semifinal matchup?

Cotton Bowl traffic amid winter storm

The snow has appeared to calm down in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Arlington Police Department made an announcement on X (formerly Twitter) encouraging those attending the Cotton Bowl to drive safe and watch out for ice. Kickoff is officially slated for 7:45 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium.

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?

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming options: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

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.

Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will have the call from the booth at AT&T Stadium, with Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge both reporting from the sidelines.

REQUIRED READING:SEC fans unable to root for Texas or Ohio State in Cotton Bowl: Can they both lose?

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. The Longhorns lead the all-time series against the Buckeyes 2-1.

Ohio State vs Texas predictions

Here’s a look at 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

According to forecasts from The Weather Channel, it is expected to be 36 degrees and cloudy at 7 p.m. ET on Friday in Arlington, Texas — which is certainly warmer than it has been in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in recent days. Snow showers in the area are expected to end at 3 a.m. ET.

However, the weather won’t have any impact on the game itself since AT&T Stadium is a full enclosed stadium.

REQUIRED READING:Ohio State, Texas meet in College Football Playoff semifinal. Who has edge in the Cotton Bowl?

Ohio State football schedule 2024

Here’s a look at Ohio State’s schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Akron (W, 52-6)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Western Michigan (W, 56-0)
Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Marshall (W, 49-14)
Thursday, Sept. 26: at Michigan State* (W, 38-7)
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Iowa* (W, 35-7)
Saturday, Oct. 12: at No. 3 Oregon* (L, 32-31)
Saturday, Oct. 19: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Nebraska* (W, 21-17)
Saturday, Nov. 2: at No. 3 Penn State* (W, 20-13)
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Purdue* (W, 45-0)
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Northwestern* (W, 31-7)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 5 Indiana (W, 38-15)
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Michigan* (L, 13-10)
Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 8 Tennessee, CFP first-round (W, 42-17)**
Wednesday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 1 Oregon, CFP Rose Bowl quarterfinal (W, 41-21)**
Friday, Jan. 10: vs. No. 5 Texas (CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal)**
Record: 12-2, 7-2 Big Ten

* Denotes Big Ten game

** Denotes CFP ranking

Texas football schedule 2024

Here’s a look at Texas’ schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State (W, 52-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7: at No. 10 Michigan (W, 31-12)
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. UTSA (W, 56-7)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Louisiana-Monroe Monroe (W, 51-3)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Mississippi State * (W, 35-13)
Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 18 Oklahoma * (W, 34-3)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 5 Georgia * (L, 30-15)
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 25 Vanderbilt * (W, 27-24)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida (W, 49-17)
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Arkansas * (W, 20-10)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Kentucky * (W, 31-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 20 Texas A&M * (W, 17-7)
Saturday Dec. 7: vs. No. 5 Georgia, SEC championship game (L, 22-19 OT)
Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 12 Clemson, CFP first-round (W, 38-24) **
Saturday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 4 Arizona State, CFP quarterfinals (W, 39-31 2OT) **
Friday, Jan. 10: vs. No. 8 Ohio State (CFP semifinals) **