Three Longhorns strengths that could help Texas defeat Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs
Editor’s note: This article is one of two previews that examine Texas football’s advantages and disadvantages against Ohio State, the team that plays in the Cotton Bowl. You can read the second article here.
When Texas football plays Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals, it will experience some of the comforts of home.
AT&T Stadium in Arlington will host the Cotton Bowl, where UT’s live longhorn mascot, Bevo, will be present. Additionally, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian hopes that the Longhorns (12-2) will have a home-field advantage when they play the Buckeyes (13-2) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN thanks to a CFP game played inside the boundaries of the Lone Star State.
“We’re going to need our fans,” Sarkisian stated on Friday. “The support of our fans will be crucial. In Arlington, I need Longhorn Nation to make an appearance. To strive to win this game, we will need to exert every ounce of our strength. We’re obviously huge underdogs. No one will try to help us. To strive to win this game, we will therefore need to use every effort possible.”
Will it suffice? Let’s argue that Texas should win.
Ohio State vs. Texas: Will Howard, the quarterback for the Buckeyes, has never defeated the Longhorns
During his time at Kansas State, Ohio State’s fifth-year signal-caller, Will Howard, received three looks at Texas. After defeating the Wildcats handily in 2020 and narrowly winning in 2021 and 2023, the Longhorns sent him home with a loss each time.
Howard has had varying degrees of success in those contests. He failed to pass for 100 yards in 2021 after turning it over twice in 2020. In 2023, he was exceptional. Royal-Memorial Stadium saw Howard toss for 327 yards and four touchdowns.
He leads the Big Ten with 32 passing touchdowns this season. He has 3,490 yards on 72.6% of his passes.
Howard’s athleticism was also commended by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. Although he has only accumulated 165 rushing yards this season, his career total of over 1,000 yards on the ground is impressive.
“He’s got intention,” Sarkisian stated on Friday. “He is athletically gifted. Then there was his skill to toss a ball that could be caught. It’s been a few years since I saw that. He makes plays for him and throws passes where they need to be thrown. Additionally, his patience and composure under pressure have been really commendable.
The Texas Longhorns can throw off the Buckeyes’ offensive balance.
The Buckeyes’ inability to run the ball effectively has been a recurring theme in their poorest games of the season.
Ohio State only got 2.1 yards per rush in a thrilling victory over Nebraska. In an upset victory in Week 14, Michigan held the Buckeyes to 3.0 yards per carry. The Buckeyes lost to Oregon in October after being restricted to 4.3 yards per carry.
It’s difficult, but not impossible, to slow down TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins’s excellent duo. And few teams are more prepared than Texas, which enters the game with one of the nation’s top 15 run defenses.
Additionally, don’t let Cam Skattebo’s heroics versus Texas in the Peach Bowl deceive you. Some defensive backs played more than 100 snaps, and the Longhorn defense was on the field for a very long time. Skattebo’s performance was significantly impacted by fatigue.
The Longhorns have an opportunity to take advantage of a crucial OSU absence, and Texas football should be healthier.
The second part of the season has seen changes to the Ohio State offensive line. Josh Simmons, the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle, was sidelined for the season against Oregon in Week 7. Two weeks later, his replacement, Zen Michalski, was injured and failed to make an impression on the field.
By moving standout left guard Donovan Jackson to tackle, the Buckeyes were able to replace that void, but Ryan Day and his staff have struggled to fill the large void at guard.
Cameron Williams, a right tackle for Texas, should return. For the Peach Bowl, he was a game-time decision. Isaiah Bond, a wide receiver, ought to be more prepared to play in this game as well. As he recovers from an ankle injury, he played a limited role against Arizona State.
