The first-ever matchup between Texas and Ohio State football came in 2005, when Vince Young and the Longhorns went into Ohio Stadium and pulled out a 25-22 victory in a season that would famously end with a national championship.
Texas’ latest meeting against the Buckeyes can help it get one step closer to the proud program’s first national title since that magical season 19 years ago.
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On Friday night, coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns will square off against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, which is serving as one of the two College Football Playoff semifinal sites this season. With a victory against the Buckeyes, Texas would advance to the playoff championship game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta, where it would take on Notre Dame.
The 5th-seeded Longhorns reached the semifinals after a 38-24 first-round victory against No. 12 Clemson and a thrilling 39-31 double-overtime win against No. 4 Arizona State on New Year’s Day in the quarterfinals. They’ll face their toughest challenge yet in Ohio State, which beat Tennessee and Oregon by a combined 45 points in the first round and quarterfinals, respectively.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” was on site at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas ahead of the matchup between Texas and Ohio State, with the panel of the popular pregame show making predictions for Friday night’s contest.
Here’s a look at who Nick Saban, Lee Corso, Pat McAfee and the rest of the “GameDay” crew picked to win between the Longhorns and Buckeyes:
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Texas-Ohio State picks for ‘College GameDay’: Who Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Lee Corso picked
- Desmond Howard: Ohio State
- Nick Saban: Ohio State
- Pat McAfee: Ohio State
- Lee Corso: Texas
- Kirk Herbstreit: Abstained (calling the game)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Every ‘College GameDay’ pick for Texas-Ohio State Cotton Bowl game
