DALLAS – Ohio State began 2024 to win the national championship. Most of the Buckeyes’ upperclassmen elected to return for their senior seasons, looking to win a title. The Scarlet and Gray also added a few key pieces from the transfer portal, all set on being the last team standing at the end of the year.
Almost a year later, Ohio State is one game away from the national championship, set to play in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Buckeyes are playing their best football at the right time after blowout wins against Tennessee at Ohio Stadium and Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Next up is Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
The Longhorns played their first year in the SEC in 2024, losing once to Georgia in the regular season and again the SEC Championship Game. However, Texas is the only SEC team left in the Playoff. The Longhorns defeated Clemson at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the Playoff first round before dispatching Arizona State in double overtime in the Peach Bowl.
Ohio State and Texas are college football bluebloods and two of the winningest programs in the sport. On Friday, they will go head to head for the right to play for it all later this month.
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Ohio State’s 2024 regular season is over. The Buckeyes are into the semifinal of the first 12-team College Football Playoff and compete for a national championship! The 2024-25 basketball season is off to a good start. Stay on top of the latest Buckeye news by BECOMING A BUCKNUTS SUBSCRIBER today!
In this week’s Expert Roundtable, the Bucknuts staff reflect on what stood out from the win against the Ducks and give their thoughts on the matchup with the Longhorns and predictions for the Cotton Bowl.
After a second dominant performance in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, how high is your confidence level in Ohio State heading into this College Football Playoff semifinal?
Dave Biddle: I’m very confident — not sure how you could not be after watching this team through the first two rounds of the College Football Playoff — but I hope the Buckeyes are keeping their eye on the prize. They need to keep the edge they’ve had through the first two games.
Dan Rubin: Extremely high. The highest its been since … 2015?