The 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between Ohio State and Texas kicks off at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 7:30 p.m. ET this Friday. ESPN and every college football blog have articles previewing the game and telling you why one of these teams will win. We wanted to be a little different and provide you with a list of stats – numbers if you will – that set up how the Cotton Bowl might unfold. Take in the numbers and decide for yourself. Ohio State or Texas?
By The Numbers
According to the online ticket resale site Vivid Seats, the expected crowd for the Cotton Bowl is expected to skew 59% towards the Longhorns
Ohio State and Texas are meeting for only the fourth time (Texas 2-1), the second time in a bowl game
These two ‘Blue Bloods’ are both ranked in the top five in all-time wins among current FBS programs (Ohio State second with 976, Texas fifth with 961)
Ohio State and Texas ranked third and fourth, respectively, in 247Sports 2024 team talent composite rankings
In a 31-12 win at Michigan, the one common opponent between Ohio State and Texas, the Longhorns gained 137 more yards and scored 21 more points than the Buckeyes did in their regular season finale 13-10 loss to the Wolverines
Quinn Ewers is 2-5 against top 10 teams in his three years as the starting QB at Texas, including the playoffs. Ohio State starting QB Will Howard is 4-1 this season, his first with the Buckeyes, against top 10 teams, including the playoffs
Ohio State is fourth nationally in first down offense. Texas is fifth
In the Longhorns’ two losses to Georgia, they rushed for an average of 30 total yards (rushed for 53 in their overtime win over Arizona State in the quarterfinal). Excluding the Peach Bowl, Texas averaged 197.4 yards rushing in its other 12 wins
Ohio State’s rush defense allows 92 yards per game, ranking fifth nationally. The Buckeyes took Oregon’s run game completely out of the Rose Bowl by forcing the Ducks backward to the tune of -23 yards on the ground
Texas has a slight edge in third-down defense allowing opponents to convert 31% of the time (eighth nationally) compared to 34.6% for Ohio State
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden is averaging over 20 yards per catch in the Longhorns’ last four games
Ohio State’s defense has given up 28 passing plays of 20 or more yards, tied for ninth-fewest in the country
Ohio State’s defense leads the nation in sack rate at 11.2%
Texas surrendered 13 total sacks in two losses to Georgia – the only team the Longhorns have played with a comparable defensive line to Ohio State’s
Ohio State’s true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has 14 touchdown receptions this season (tied for third nationally). He scored 10 of those in the first half of games
Ohio State averaged 486.5 yards of total offense in its two playoff games against Tennessee and Oregon
Texas’ defense gave up an average of 461 yards of offense to Clemson and Arizona State (OT) in its playoff wins
Texas managed 375 yards of total offense against Arizona State on a season-low 60 plays
Texas is averaging 7.7 penalties over its last three games, while Ohio State is averaging 2.3 over its last three
Both teams have struggled at times to kick field goals. Ohio State has made 73% of its field goal attempts; the Longhorns have made 64%
Ohio State is currently a 6-point favorite over Texas, according to BetMGM
By Jake Thigpen (@Jake_Thigpen)
