Sports
5 things we learned from Cotton Bowl
ARLINGTON, Texas Here are five things we learned from No. 8 Ohio States' 28-14 win over No. 5 Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Friday night.
The state of Ohio Buckeyes can deal with the frontrunner status
Expectations surrounding the Buckeyes changed over the past month.
With a loss to Michigan putting them at rock bottom at the end of the regular season, they entered the postseason under a cloud of uncertainty.
But the drubbing of Tennessee and Oregon reestablished the Buckeyes as the team to beat in the playoffs, putting them in the bull's eye as they moved up in the race.
They do not wither under the increasing pressure. Although they missed opportunities to extend their lead against the Longhorns after another fast start they never fell behind and proved resilient.
Texas would tie the score twice in the second and third quarters before Ohio State responded.
With a loaded roster, the Buckeyes entered this season as one of the favorites to win it all. But they never quite lived up to those expectations during the regular season, and it remained to be seen if they could deliver on them when they returned in January. They proved capable as they advanced to the final.
Jim Knowles Ohio State's defense got redemption
If there has been a blow to the Buckeyes' top-ranked defenses since Jim Knowles took over as coordinator in 2022, it was a fourth-quarter slump.
They crumbled in losses late.
When they fell to Georgia in the semifinals two years ago, they blew a 14-point lead, giving up two touchdowns in the final nine minutes.
In a narrow loss at Michigan last season that kept Ohio State from reaching the playoffs, the defense couldn't get off the field. The Wolverines made a seven-minute field goal drive to the milk clock.
But the defensive side of the ball delivered against Texas with a clutch goal line stand that sealed their victory.
The Longhorns had reached the 1-yard mark with just under four minutes remaining, needing just a touchdown to tie the score at 21. But the Buckeyes never allowed them to cross the goal line, a sequence that culminated in a strip sack by defensive end Jack. Sawyer that he returned 83 yards for a score.
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Penalties are expensive for the state of Ohio
The Buckeyes have been disciplined this season.
Prior to the semifinals, only five Football Bowl Subdivision teams had averaged fewer penalties per game.
But flags crippled a series of drives in the first half, preventing the Buckeyes from building on the early momentum.
Ohio State committed a penalty of 10 yards or more on three consecutive drives, putting it behind schedule and leading to punts.
“We held ourselves back,” coach Ryan Day said.
The first penalty in particular was costly. After running back TreVeyon Henderson at the Texas 37-yard line late in the first quarter, he got up from the turf and punched the facemask of defensive lineman Alex January, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Instead of at least getting within field goal range, the Buckeyes faced second-and-24 from their 48-yard line, and the drive quickly stalled, costing them the chance to build a two-score lead .
Their nine penalties for 75 yards were season highs.
Texas wanted to take Jeremiah Smith
The Longhorns were the best pass defense the Buckeyes had seen this year.
It was evident in their coverage of freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, which limited him to one reception for 3 yards, a dramatic departure from his hot start to the playoff.
Smith, who caught 13 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the previous two playoff victories, was often covered by Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron and regularly saw double teams with an extra safety drifting to his side of the field.
The extra attention led quarterback Will Howard to target him just three times, the fewest in his 15 games with the Buckeyes.
Even when Howard tried to feed Smith, it proved difficult. Linebacker David Gbenda picked off Howard on the opening drive of the second half when he attempted a pass to Smith.
The reporting prompted Howard to lean on other weapons, including tight end Gee Scott Jr. and wide receiver Carnell Tate, who were given the green light early in the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns were determined not to let Smith beat them.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard's legs mattered
After Ohio State added Howard as a transfer from Kansas State last offseason, Day pointed to his mobility as a valuable attribute.
Howard hasn't been a productive rusher for the Buckeyes, but he's quick enough in the red zone or in other situations to run for needed yards.
His biggest impact yet came on the fourth-quarter touchdown drive. When they faced a fourth-and-2 at the Texas 34-yard line, he took off running to move the chains, and if he hadn't slipped on the AT&T Stadium lawn, he would have been headed for the end zone.
Howard said he had the opportunity to be audible at the line of scrimmage, but Texas left a lighter box so he could run on a power play.
The front they came out of was perfect for it, Howard said. They didn't really expect it.
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