Cotton Bowl Preview: Texas vs. Ohio StateFor Right to Play for National Championship
By John ChuhranCaMMVets Media
There is a common thread among the four remaining teams in the Football Bowl Series (FBS): there were no easy triumphs – each team has performed strongly in the playoffs.
Indeed, Texas and Ohio State deserve their spots in the second semi-final, the Cotton Bowl set for a 7:30 PM kickoff on Friday. Their play in recent games has been strong and impressive.
For the first time this year, No. 5 seed Texas (13-2) finds itself as an underdog after securing a hard-fought, 39-31 overtime win against Arizona State. Ohio State (12-2), which stumbled into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed after losing 13-10 in its annual match-up with arch-rival Michigan, has been the most dominant team in the playoffs, crushing Tennessee 42-17 and then grabbing a quick 34-0 lead against top-seeded Oregon before claiming a 41-21 victory.
Like the teams in the other semi-final (Penn State and Notre Dame, which play in tonight’s Orange Bowl), the strengths of the Cotton Bowl competitors lies in their defenses. The Buckeyes ranked first in the nation in total defense (allowing just 244.6 yards per game; the Longhorns are third at 277.7), passing yards allowed (152.4 to Texas’s third-best 166.1) and scoring (12.1 points allowed per game to the fourth-best 15.4 of their opponent). Texas leads in a couple of significant but less publicized defensive categories: turnover margin (0.40 to 0.21) and third down conversion percentage (31.5 to 34.8. Ohio State averages fewer penalties (4.07 per game compared to 6.47). Time of possession is virtually identical (Ohio State 30:03 to 29:58).
The Texas defense is led by Anthony Hill Jr. (107 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 7 quarterback sacks, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup, 4 qb hurries, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery), Michael Taaffe (73 tackles, 5.5 tfl, 2 sacks, 2 int, 10 brup, 1 qbh, 1 ff, 1 fr), Andrew Mukuba (63 tackles, 4 tfl, 5 int, 7 brup, 1 qbh, 1 ff), Jahdae Barron (61 tackles, 2.5 tfl, 1 sack, 5 int, 11 brup, 2 qbh, 1 fr), David Gbenda (60 tackles, 5 tfl, 1 sack, 1 qbh, 1 ff), and Liona Lefaue (59 tackles, 5 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 int, 1 brup, 1 ff, 1 safety).
Offensively, the Longhorns are led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, a transfer from Ohio State, who has a strong but erratic arm(270 completions for 406 attempts for 3,189 yards, 29 TD with 11 int) and is not a running threat (52 runs for a net loss of 64 yards and 2 TD). Arch Manning (61 completions for 90 attempts for 939 yards and 9 TD) is sometimes rotated in to offer a QB threat who also runs (24 carries for 100 yards and 4 TD). Mathew Golden (56 receptions for 936 yards and 9 TD) and Gunnar Helm (58 catches for 744 yards and 7 TD) are his favorite targets. Top runners are Quintrevion Wisner (209 carries for 1,018 yards and 5 TD) and Jaydon Blue (13 for 714 and 8 TD).
Ohio State’s defense is anchored by Simon Cody (97 tackles, 11.5 tfl, 7 sacks, 7 brup, 1 ff, 1 fr), Sonny Styles (85 tackles, 6.5 tfl, 4 sacks, 4 brup, 1 fr), Caleb Downs (71 tackles, 6.5 tfl, .5 sack, 1 int, 6 brup, 1 qbh), Lathan Ransom (69 tackles, 8 tfl, 1 sack, 1 int, 2 brup, 1 qbh, 3 ff, 1 fr), Jack Sawyer (53 tackles, 8 tfl, 8 sacks, 1 int, 5 brup, 6 qbh, 2 ff, 2 fr), and the dynamic J.T. Tuimoloau (49 tackles, 17 tfl, 10 sacks, 3 brup, 5 qbh, 2ff).
The Buckeyes attack is directed by QB Will Howard (268 completions for 369 attempts for 3,490 yards, 32 TD and 9 int) who can get a couple of yards with his legs if needed (82 runs for 164 yards and 7 TD). Leading receivers are Jeremiah Smith (70 catches for 1,224 yards and 14 TD), Emeka Eqbuka (70 receptions for 896 yards and 10 TD), and Carnell Tate (43 catches for 611 yards and 4 TD).
By John ChuhranCaMMVets Media
There is a common thread among the four remaining teams in the Football Bowl Series (FBS): there were no easy triumphs – each team has performed strongly in the playoffs.
Indeed, Texas and Ohio State deserve their spots in the second semi-final, the Cotton Bowl set for a 7:30 PM kickoff on Friday. Their play in recent games has been strong and impressive.
For the first time this year, No. 5 seed Texas (13-2) finds itself as an underdog after securing a hard-fought, 39-31 overtime win against Arizona State. Ohio State (12-2), which stumbled into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed after losing 13-10 in its annual match-up with arch-rival Michigan, has been the most dominant team in the playoffs, crushing Tennessee 42-17 and then grabbing a quick 34-0 lead against top-seeded Oregon before claiming a 41-21 victory.
Like the teams in the other semi-final (Penn State and Notre Dame, which play in tonight’s Orange Bowl), the strengths of the Cotton Bowl competitors lies in their defenses. The Buckeyes ranked first in the nation in total defense (allowing just 244.6 yards per game; the Longhorns are third at 277.7), passing yards allowed (152.4 to Texas’s third-best 166.1) and scoring (12.1 points allowed per game to the fourth-best 15.4 of their opponent). Texas leads in a couple of significant but less publicized defensive categories: turnover margin (0.40 to 0.21) and third down conversion percentage (31.5 to 34.8. Ohio State averages fewer penalties (4.07 per game compared to 6.47). Time of possession is virtually identical (Ohio State 30:03 to 29:58).
The Texas defense is led by Anthony Hill Jr. (107 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 7 quarterback sacks, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup, 4 qb hurries, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery), Michael Taaffe (73 tackles, 5.5 tfl, 2 sacks, 2 int, 10 brup, 1 qbh, 1 ff, 1 fr), Andrew Mukuba (63 tackles, 4 tfl, 5 int, 7 brup, 1 qbh, 1 ff), Jahdae Barron (61 tackles, 2.5 tfl, 1 sack, 5 int, 11 brup, 2 qbh, 1 fr), David Gbenda (60 tackles, 5 tfl, 1 sack, 1 qbh, 1 ff), and Liona Lefaue (59 tackles, 5 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 int, 1 brup, 1 ff, 1 safety).
Offensively, the Longhorns are led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, a transfer from Ohio State, who has a strong but erratic arm(270 completions for 406 attempts for 3,189 yards, 29 TD with 11 int) and is not a running threat (52 runs for a net loss of 64 yards and 2 TD). Arch Manning (61 completions for 90 attempts for 939 yards and 9 TD) is sometimes rotated in to offer a QB threat who also runs (24 carries for 100 yards and 4 TD). Mathew Golden (56 receptions for 936 yards and 9 TD) and Gunnar Helm (58 catches for 744 yards and 7 TD) are his favorite targets. Top runners are Quintrevion Wisner (209 carries for 1,018 yards and 5 TD) and Jaydon Blue (13 for 714 and 8 TD).
Ohio State’s defense is anchored by Simon Cody (97 tackles, 11.5 tfl, 7 sacks, 7 brup, 1 ff, 1 fr), Sonny Styles (85 tackles, 6.5 tfl, 4 sacks, 4 brup, 1 fr), Caleb Downs (71 tackles, 6.5 tfl, .5 sack, 1 int, 6 brup, 1 qbh), Lathan Ransom (69 tackles, 8 tfl, 1 sack, 1 int, 2 brup, 1 qbh, 3 ff, 1 fr), Jack Sawyer (53 tackles, 8 tfl, 8 sacks, 1 int, 5 brup, 6 qbh, 2 ff, 2 fr), and the dynamic J.T. Tuimoloau (49 tackles, 17 tfl, 10 sacks, 3 brup, 5 qbh, 2ff).
The Buckeyes attack is directed by QB Will Howard (268 completions for 369 attempts for 3,490 yards, 32 TD and 9 int) who can get a couple of yards with his legs if needed (82 runs for 164 yards and 7 TD). Leading receivers are Jeremiah Smith (70 catches for 1,224 yards and 14 TD), Emeka Eqbuka (70 receptions for 896 yards and 10 TD), and Carnell Tate (43 catches for 611 yards and 4 TD).
Though there is a balance between the overall play of Texas and Ohio State, the result will probably be determined by exceptional individual efforts. Right now, the Buckeyes are playing at a level that is bordering on unstoppable. They have gambled and won more times than not with big plays. In the two playoff games, the team is averaging 8.1 yards per play and Howard is averaging 11.4 yards per pass attempt. Smith has made 16 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns and though Texas’s Barron is one of the top cornerbacks in the country, containing Smith will be all but impossible. The Buckeyes have scrapped the futile straight-ahead running attack that failed against Michigan, and with multiple players capable of eventually jumping to the NFL, they will probably continue to go for game-breaking plays until some team proves capable of stopping that strategy.
For Texas to win, its highly regarded offensive line (which finished just behind Army’s offensive line in the voting for the Joe Moore Award) will have to clear gaps and make blocks that buy time for running backs and QB Ewers.
In the recent Longhorns game against Arizona State, Ewers threw for 322 yards and 3 TD in the overtime win; don’t count on that type of performance again when facing Ohio State’s Downs, widely regarded as the best defensive back in all of college football. Ohio State has the best defense of the four remaining teams and expecting the Texas O-line to hold off the Buckeyes defenders is a big ask. Texas probably will score 24 points or less – a total unlikely to win.
The victor of the Cotton Bowl will face the winner of Thursday’s Penn State-Notre Dame Orange Bowl game. The FBS Championship game in Atlanta is scheduled for 7:30 PM kickoff on Monday, January 20.
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For Texas to win, its highly regarded offensive line (which finished just behind Army’s offensive line in the voting for the Joe Moore Award) will have to clear gaps and make blocks that buy time for running backs and QB Ewers.
In the recent Longhorns game against Arizona State, Ewers threw for 322 yards and 3 TD in the overtime win; don’t count on that type of performance again when facing Ohio State’s Downs, widely regarded as the best defensive back in all of college football. Ohio State has the best defense of the four remaining teams and expecting the Texas O-line to hold off the Buckeyes defenders is a big ask. Texas probably will score 24 points or less – a total unlikely to win.
The victor of the Cotton Bowl will face the winner of Thursday’s Penn State-Notre Dame Orange Bowl game. The FBS Championship game in Atlanta is scheduled for 7:30 PM kickoff on Monday, January 20.
(-CaMMVets Media-)