2025 Cotton Bowl Classic (January)

2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
College Football Playoff Semifinal; 89th Cotton Bowl Classic
	AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the site of the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Ohio State Buckeyes	Texas Longhorns
(12–2)	(13–2)
Big Ten	SEC
28	14
Head coach: ; Ryan Day	Head coach: ; Steve Sarkisian
Date	January 10, 2025
Season	2024
Stadium	AT&T Stadium
Location	Arlington, Texas
MOP	Will Howard, QB (offense); Jack Sawyer, DE (defense)
Favorite	Ohio State by 5.5
Referee	Jerry Magallanes (ACC)
Attendance	74,527
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge (sidelines)
International TV coverage
Network	ESPN Brazil; ESPN Deportes;
Announcers	ESPN Brazil: Matheus Pinheiro (play-by-play), Weinny Eirado (analyst) and Guilherme Cohen (rules analyst); ; ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Pablo Viruega and Carlos Nava
Cotton Bowl Classic
< 2023 (Dec.)	2025 (Dec.) >

The 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic was a college football bowl game played on January 10, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The 89th annual Cotton Bowl Classic featured the Texas Longhorns of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, who both advanced from a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game. The game began at approximately 6:30 p.m. CST and aired on ESPN.^[4]^[5] The Cotton Bowl Classic was one of the 2024–25 bowl games concluding the 2024 FBS football season. Sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, the game was officially known as the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

The game is notable for an 83-yard fumble recovery by defensive end Jack Sawyer that sealed the game for Ohio State, nicknamed 83 Yards Through the Heart of Texas.^{[citation needed]} This nickname drew inspiration from the 2015 Sugar Bowl play, where Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott ran for an 85 yard touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Background

The 2025 Cotton Bowl was a semifinal game of the College Football Playoff (CFP).^[6] The game featured the winner of the Rose Bowl, Ohio State, and the winner of the Peach Bowl, Texas.^[7] The winner of this game advanced to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship game to face Notre Dame, the winner of the Orange Bowl.^[7]

At the time of 2024–25 bowl season, Ohio State and Texas were scheduled to play a home-and-home series in 2025 and 2026.


Quarterfinals			Cotton Bowl

Jan 1 – Rose Bowl

1	Oregon	21

8	Ohio State	41
			8	Ohio State	28
Jan 1 – Peach Bowl
			5	Texas	14
4	Arizona State	31

5	Texas (2OT)	39

Teams

This was the fourth meeting between Ohio State and Texas. Their last was in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, which Texas won 24-21. ^[8]

Texas Longhorns

Texas played to an 11–1 record (7–1 in conference) during the regular season; their only loss was to Georgia in Austin. The Longhorns qualified for the SEC Championship Game, where they lost a rematch to Georgia. Ranked third in the final CFP poll, the Longhorns received the fifth seed in the playoff tournament. Texas beat 12th-seeded and ACC champion Clemson 38–24 in a first-round game in Austin to advance to the Peach Bowl. In the Peach Bowl, they defeated 4th-seeded and Big 12 champion Arizona State 39–31 in double overtime. The Longhorns entered the Cotton Bowl Classic with an overall 13–2 record.

This was Texas' twenty-second appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic; this bowl was the Longhorn's first appearance in an in-state New Year's Six bowl, BCS Championship, or CFP Championship game since the 2003 Cotton Bowl Classic against LSU.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State played to a 10–2 record (7–2 in conference) during the regular season; their only losses were to Oregon in Eugene and Michigan in Columbus. These two losses resulted in the Buckeyes to not qualify for the Big Ten Championship Game. Ranked sixth in the final CFP poll, the Buckeyes received the eighth seed in the playoff tournament. Ohio State beat 9th-ranked Tennessee, 42–17, in a first-round game in Columbus to advance to the Rose Bowl. In the Rose Bowl, they defeated the number one seed and Big Ten champion, Oregon, 41–21. The Buckeyes entered the Cotton Bowl Classic with an overall 12–2 record.

This was Ohio State's fourth appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic; the Buckeyes had a record of 2-1 of their prior Cotton Bowls, where they won the January 1987 edition and the December 2017 edition. Their loss was the December 2023 edition, where they lost to Missouri, 14-3. This is Ohio State's first back-to-back appearances in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Game summary

2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
(8) No. 6 Ohio State	7	7	0	14	28
(5) No. 3 Texas	0	7	7	0	14

at AT&T Stadium • Arlington, Texas

Date: Friday, January 10, 2025
Game time: 6:45 p.m. CST
Game weather: Indoor
Game attendance: 74,527
Referee: Jerry Magallanes
TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge (sidelines)
Box score

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	Ohio State	Texas
1	7:24	10	64	4:18	OSU	Quinshon Judkins 9-yard touchdown run, Jayden Fielding kick good	7	0
2	0:29	7	59	1:23	TEX	Jaydon Blue 18-yard touchdown reception from Quinn Ewers, Will Stone kick good	7	7
2	0:13	1	75	0:16	OSU	TreVeyon Henderson 75-yard touchdown reception from Will Howard, Jayden Fielding kick good	14	7
3	3:12	12	67	5:18	TEX	Jaydon Blue 26-yard touchdown reception from Quinn Ewers, Will Stone kick good	14	14
4	7:02	13	88	7:45	OSU	Quinshon Judkins 1-yard touchdown run, Jayden Fielding kick good	21	14
4	2:13	10	58	4:49	OSU	Jack Sawyer 83-yard fumble return, Jayden Fielding kick good	28	14
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							28	14

Statistics

Team statistical comparison
Statistic	Ohio State	Texas
First downs	18	21
First downs rushing	5	7
First downs passing	12	10
First downs penalty	1	4
Third down efficiency	3–10	5–15
Fourth down efficiency	1–1	1–3
Total plays–net yards	57–370	68–341
Rushing attempts–net yards	24–81	29–58
Yards per rush	3.4	2
Yards passing	8.8	7.3
Pass completions–attempts	24–33	23–39
Interceptions thrown	1	1
Punt returns–total yards	1–1	2–16
Kickoff returns–total yards	0–0	0–0
Punts–average yardage	6–42.0	6–43.8
Fumbles–lost	1–0	3–1
Penalties–yards	9–75	5–54
Time of possession	31:38	28:22

Ohio State statistics
Buckeyes passing
	C–A	Yds	TD–INT
Will Howard	24–33	289	1–1
Buckeyes rushing
	Car	Yds	TD
TreVeyon Henderson	6	42	1
Quinshon Judkins	9	36	1
Will Howard	7	23	0
Emeka Egbuka	1	0	0
Buckeyes receiving
	Rec	Yds	TD
Carnell Tate	7	87	0
Emeka Egbuka	5	51	0
Gee Scott Jr.	5	30	0
Quinshon Judkins	3	22	0
Will Kacmarek	2	21	0
TreVeyon Henderson	1	75	1
Jeremiah Smith	1	3	0

Texas statistics
Longhorns passing
	C–A	Yds	TD–INT
Quinn Ewers	23–39	283	2–1
Longhorns rushing
	Car	Yds	TD
Quintrevion Wisner	17	46	0
Jaydon Blue	4	16	0
Arch Manning	1	8	0
Ryan Wingo	1	6	0
Jerrick Gibson	1	0	0
Quinn Ewers	5	-18	0
Longhorns receiving
	Rec	Yds	TD
Quintrevion Wisner	6	42	0
Jaydon Blue	5	59	0
DeAndre Moore Jr.	4	31	0
Matthew Golden	2	51	0
Gunnar Helm	2	42	0
Silas Bolden	1	24	0
Ryan Wingo	1	22	0
Isaiah Bond	1	8	0
Juan Davis	1	4	0

References

^ Austro, Ben (January 3, 2025). "ACC and Big 12 officiating crews draw the Semifinal assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
^ https://x.com/weinnyeirado/status/1877493442236002335
^ https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/01/espns-signature-megacast-presentation-of-college-football-playoff-semifinal-showdowns-set-for-thursday-and-friday-jan-9-10/
^ "Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Game Dates Set for 2024, 2025". Cotton Bowl Classic. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
^ Cobb, David. "2024-25 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
^ Harris, Laura (December 3, 2024). "College Football Playoff Semifinal Cotton Bowl Classic headed to AT&T Stadium". KXAS-TV. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "CFP_2024-25_STANDARDIZED_BRACKET 12.08.24 KC-NEW" (PDF). collegefootballplayoff.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
^ "Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes football series history games list". winsipedia.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.

External links

Game statistics at statbroadcast.com

[1] Austro, Ben (January 3, 2025). "ACC and Big 12 officiating crews draw the Semifinal assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved January 4, 2025.

[2] ttps://x.com/weinnyeirado/status/1877493442236002335

[3] ttps://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/01/espns-signature-megacast-presentation-of-college-football-playoff-semifinal-showdowns-set-for-thursday-and-friday-jan-9-10/

[4] "Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Game Dates Set for 2024, 2025". Cotton Bowl Classic. Retrieved June 29, 2024.

[5] Cobb, David. "2024-25 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2024.

[semifinal-6] Harris, Laura (December 3, 2024). "College Football Playoff Semifinal Cotton Bowl Classic headed to AT&T Stadium". KXAS-TV. Retrieved December 9, 2024.

[playoffpicture-7] "CFP_2024-25_STANDARDIZED_BRACKET 12.08.24 KC-NEW" (PDF). collegefootballplayoff.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.

[8] "Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes football series history games list". winsipedia.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.

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v t e 2024–25 NCAA football bowl game season
Celebration (Dec. 14) Salute to Veterans (Dec. 14) Frisco (Dec. 17) Boca Raton (Dec. 18) LA (Dec. 18) New Orleans (Dec. 19) Cure (Dec. 20) Gasparilla (Dec. 20) Myrtle Beach (Dec. 23) Famous Idaho Potato (Dec. 23) Hawaii (Dec. 24) GameAbove Sports (Dec. 26) Rate (Dec. 26) 68 Ventures (Dec. 26) Armed Forces (Dec. 27) Birmingham (Dec. 27) Liberty (Dec. 27) Holiday (Dec. 27) Las Vegas (Dec. 27) Fenway (Dec. 28) Pinstripe (Dec. 28) New Mexico (Dec. 28) Pop-Tarts (Dec. 28) Arizona (Dec. 28) Military (Dec. 28) Alamo (Dec. 28) Independence (Dec. 28) Music City (Dec. 30) ReliaQuest (Dec. 31) Sun (Dec. 31) Citrus (Dec. 31) Texas (Dec. 31) Gator (Jan. 2) First Responder (Jan. 3) Duke's Mayo (Jan. 3) Bahamas (Jan. 4)
College Football Playoff games: Fiesta (Dec. 31) Peach (Jan. 1) Rose (Jan. 1) Sugar (Jan. 2) Orange (Jan. 9) Cotton (Jan. 10) National Championship Game (Jan. 20)
All-Star Games Hula Bowl (Jan. 11) Tropical Bowl (Jan. 18) East–West Shrine Bowl (Jan. 30) Senior Bowl (Feb. 1) HBCU Legacy Bowl (Feb. 22)

v t e Cotton Bowl Classic
History & conference tie-ins	History Cotton Bowl AT&T Stadium College Football Playoff New Year's Six Group of Five
Games	1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 (January) 1966 (December) 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 (January) 2015 (December) 2017 (January) 2017 (December) 2018 2019 2020 2021 2023 (January) 2023 (December) 2025 (January) 2025 (December)
Notes	There was a Cotton Bowl Classic in January and December in 1966, 2015, 2017, 2023, 2025. The 2015 (December), 2018, 2021, and 2025 (January) editions were College Football Playoff semifinals.