ARLINGTON, Texas (WCMH) — One more game, and the national championship could belong to Ohio State.
The eighth-seeded Buckeyes shut out No. 5 Texas in the fourth quarter on Friday night to cruise to a 28-14 win in the Cotton Bowl.
Next is a date on Jan. 20 in Atlanta against No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the first year since the College Football Playoff was expanded to 12 teams.
In the semifinal, the game turned on a fourth-down Texas play when Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer returned a Quinn Ewers fumble 83 yards for a touchdown. After the Longhorns got the ball back, Caleb Downs intercepted Ewers, leaving a 1:44 on the clock.
Photos from the Cotton Bowl
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Jack Sawyer #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes signals to the sideline in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Quinshon Judkins #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Quinshon Judkins #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Actor Matthew McConaughey looks on from the sideline during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws a pass in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Quinshon Judkins #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball while being tackled by Anthony Hill Jr. #0 of the Texas Longhorns in the first quarter during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Cody Simon #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Cody Simon #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes tackles Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Jaydon Blue #23 of the Texas Longhorns makes a catch for a touchdown past Sonny Styles #6 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Quinn Ewers #3 hands the ball off to Quintrevion Wisner #26 of the Texas Longhorns during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Carnell Tate #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 10: Running Back TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs for a touchdown during the Ohio State Buckeyes versus Texas Longhorns College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic on January 10, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Jaydon Blue #23 of the Texas Longhorns scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Quintrevion Wisner #26 of the Texas Longhorns runs with the ball while being tackled by Jordan Hancock #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the third quarter during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Colin Simmons #11 of the Texas Longhorns walks across the field in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
The Buckeyes took an early lead on their opening drive with a 9-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. The Longhorns were able to tie the score late in the second quarter with a 18-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Jaydon Blue. TreVeyon Henderson answered when he caught a pass from Will Howard and went 75 yards to the house, giving OSU momentum heading into the locker room.
In the second half, Ewers found Blue again, this time for a 26-yard touchdown, which tied the game at 14. But with 7:02 to go in the fourth, Judkins capped off a 13-play scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give Ohio State back the lead.
The teams met for the first time since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes are in a playoff semifinal for the sixth time since the playoff era began, and the Longhorns are in final four for the second year in a row.
The win marked OSU’s first at AT&T Stadium since 2018 when Ryan Day served as the team’s interim coach. Ohio State will make its first championship game appearance since 2020.
Scroll below for in-game updates.
