Surging Ohio State to face tenacious Texas in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in the CFP title game
Associated PressPASADENA, Calif. — Texas will be a whole lot closer to home than Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. 6 Ohio State was favored by nearly a touchdown in many early Cotton Bowl betting lines, reflecting the confidence generated by the Buckeyes’ optimization of their bountiful talent over their last two games. So we’re just taking in all the moments and just trying to push for one more game to spend with each other.” Beating the previously unbeaten Ducks in handy fashion underscored the immensity of the Buckeyes’ talent — and it made a strong argument in favor of the 12-team playoff, since a team with Ohio State’s two losses easily could have been left out of previous playoff formats with smaller fields. 4 Texas only has to travel 200 miles north from Austin to Arlington for its second straight trip to the CFP semifinals, needing one win to reach the Longhorns’ first CFP championship game. The Longhorns have been much less convincing than the Buckeyes in their first two CFP victories, but the Texas train somehow keeps rolling in coach Steve Sarkisian’s fourth season.