Game Day: No. 5 Texas Longhorns versus No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl

Game Day has arrived at the Cotton Bowl for the matchup between the No. 5 Texas Longhorns (13-2) and No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2). The College Football Playoff Semifinal at AT&T Stadium will feature two of the best teams in college football and two traditional blue bloods of the sport. Neither team won their conference, but both teams won their first two games in this year’s College Football Playoff, the first of which began back on December 21st.

The Buckeyes took down Tennessee in Columbus, followed by top-ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl to punch their ticket to Arlington. Texas, defeated Clemson soundly and squeaked by Arizona State in double-overtime at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on New Year’s Day. Both teams defeated higher-seeded teams in their quarterfinal match-up. Regardless of the path taken to get here, the winner will have an opportunity to play for a national championship.

Texas and Ohio State have met thrice, with the last coming in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. The Longhorns defeated the Buckeyes 24-21 to take the all-time lead in the series advantage 2-1.

Offensively, Ryan Day’s group ranks 27th nationally in total offense. They amass an average of 432.5 yards per game. Conversely, the Longhorns rank 17th in total offense and average 443.9 yards per game.

Defensively, the Buckeyes hold the No. 1 ranking in total defense, allowing just 244.6 yards per game. Texas isn’t far behind, ranked No. 3. in the country in total defense. Pete Kwiatkowski’s unit gives up just 277.7 yards per game to opponents.

The Longhorns are making their second appearance in the College Football Playoff, while Ohio State is playing in the College Football Playoffs for the sixth time since its inception. Texas is the only team to make a College Football Playoff appearance last season and this year.

The winner of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl will advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship game and will face XXX on January 20 at 6:30 PM at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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