It looked like we were getting the undercard last night, until the fourth quarter.
For the final fifteen minutes, the Orange Bowl was spectacular.
Despite some sloppy play that provided both teams with a golden opportunity to win the game, it was ultimately the team with the golden domes that will forge on to play for a national title. Drew Allar will probably get another chance – his performance was not befitting of a quarterback ready to make the jump to the pros.
With just one more game left before the national title, the blues are beginning to set in. But for now, let’s just push those feelings down a little deeper.
In the Von Hugendong Bowl Mania group, Matman Robinson continues to lead. Around The Corn effectively needs a miracle to win.
Let’s take a look at the second semifinal matchup of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl
#8 Ohio State vs. #5 Texas (Friday, 7:30 PM ET – ESPN)
For months there have been pundits making the claim that Ohio State and Texas are the two most talented teams in college football this season. Though the Buckeyes and Longhorns haven’t always looked the part, together they make up half of the last four standing in the CFP. And as it’s worth a lot at this particular moment, it should be mentioned that Ryan Day’s squad very much looks like the best team in the country right now. Leave no doubt victories over Tennessee and Oregon have many people back on the Buckeye bandwagon, as it doesn’t look like any secondary has an answer for Jeremiah Smith and most offensive fronts don’t have one for Ohio State’s defensive line. Had Texas been able to finish off Arizona State as many figured it would with about 13 minutes to go in the fourth quarter of that quarterfinal matchup, there may be more doubt heading into the Cotton Bowl. But the Longhorns are the clear underdog in this game being contested in their own state.
Some Buckeyes fans are still frustrated, wondering why the offense that has been on display the previous two games wasn’t available for the Michigan game. Hindsight certainly gives some credence to the theory that Ryan Day and his staff may have been holding back its most effective play calling until they really needed it, but nothing can be proven. What can be asserted confidently, though, is that Ohio State is almost impossible to stop when it takes care of the football and loosens up the opposing defense with shots downfield. Will Howard has been lauded as the orchestrator of this success, but all he has really had to do is his job, surrounded by so much talent. While Texas certainly has the bodies on its defense to match up with the majority of Ohio State’s offense, the Longhorns did struggle to slow down Cam Skattebo in various ways. It will be imperative for Ohio State not to get too comfortable running or throwing the ball, as Texas can be thrown off by a creative mix.
Comfort is the last thing that Texas will feel in this game. That may end up being a good thing, as the Longhorns appeared to be lulled to sleep in the fourth quarter against Arizona State after having controlled most of the first three quarters prior. The presumed lapse of focus nearly cost the Longhorns that game. Steve Sarkisian’s team will want to limit Ohio State’s number of offensive possessions, given the way that offense has been humming since December 21 of last year. Thus, a good start to the run game will be important. If Texas can do this, it’ll have a shot at winning the game. After all, it only takes one Quinn Ewers throw to spark a score. It’s odd to treat the Longhorns like an underdog – this was the No. 1 team in the country for a period this season. But with the way things have been going, the only thing that can truly get in Ohio State’s way of a trip to a national title is itself.
My Pick: 31-22 Ohio State
Bowl Mania Confidence: 28 points
