Texas Advances to College Football Playoff Semifinal

The Texas Longhorns will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on January 10, following their dramatic 39-31 double-overtime victory over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Despite a challenging game where Texas was outplayed for much of the time, they managed to secure the win thanks to crucial plays from quarterback Quinn Ewers and defensive back Andrew Mukuba, who intercepted a pass to seal the game. This upcoming matchup will be the fourth meeting between Texas and Ohio State since 2005, adding historical significance to the contest. Texas, now 13-2, will be vying for a place in the National Championship on January 20, where they would face the winner of the Penn State vs. Notre Dame/Georgia game. The Longhorns have shown resilience, overcoming a tough performance in the Peach Bowl to advance in the playoff. Betting trends indicated heavy backing for Texas, but sharp money remained on Arizona State, reflecting the competitive nature of the matchup.