Ten Things Buckeye Fans Will Be Saying After The Cotton Bowl

IRVING, TX — The latest chapter in the story of the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes will be written on Friday when the Cotton Bowl kicks off. A College Football Playoff semifinal between Texas and Ohio State deep in the heart of rainy, snowy, sleety, slushy Dallas. The winner goes on to Atlanta to play for a national title, and the loser goes home.

There’s a ton on the line and more drama headed your way than you might be able to handle. When it’s all said and done, however, here’s what you’ll be saying afterward.

“I bet Cody Simon would know whether to cut the red wire or the green wire.”

One of the themes of the past two games for Ohio State is how middle linebacker Cody Simon is always making the right call and is the most trustworthy guy on the team. When people say that about you, then you are also the kind of guy who can be trusted to defuse a bomb. There’s nobody on this team you’d trust more to make that call than Cody Simon. You could maybe allow Jeremiah Smith to also simply contain the blast within his hands.

“The running backs look as fresh as ever.”

TreVeyon Henderson has 18 carries for 174 yards in the postseason and is looking more explosive and dynamic than ever. Quinshon Judkins has 27 carries for 119 yards in that same span. Neither guy looks like they’ve played in 14 games before this one, but they both have. That freshness is going to lead to some nifty moves and some punishing runs. And then they’ll get up and do it again.

“Will Howard dropped more dimes than a confidential informant.”

Will Howard has completed 80% of his passes in seven of his 14 games this year. The Buckeyes are 6-1 in those games, with the lone loss being at Oregon. With perfect conditions in AT&T Stadium and enough time to throw the ball, Howard should again be the accurate quarterback we have surprisingly come to know him to be. And with the Texas defense being as good as it is, Howard is going to have to hit some tight windows.

“Jim Knowles is a maestro.”

The first half of this game is probably going to be a knife fight between Steve Sarkisian and Jim Knowles. The second half may be more of a sledgehammer type of deal. The Ohio State defense is equipped to adjust to anything, so it’s going to be fun to watch what the Buckeyes are able to do as they feel things out from the start. How much will they be dictating early on, or will they be reacting? The Buckeyes haven’t blitzed much in the playoffs. Is it time to change that now?

“Texas had no answer for Tyleik Williams.”

The Longhorns have an up-and-down running attack. They have done nothing against Georgia and Arizona State, but they did go for nearly 300 yards against Clemson. Ohio State defensive tackles Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton are going to make the running game their main mission in this game. Hamilton is the quiet guy who often goes unnoticed. Williams, however, is the guy who is very easily seen, though somehow keeps getting past the interior of the offensive line.

“Donovan Jackson has made himself some money this season.”

Ever since Donovan Jackson made the move to left tackle, he’s been challenged by some of the nation’s best defensive ends. That will be the case again tonight against freshman Collin Simmons. Simmons has nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss on the season. Based on how things have gone for Jackson in previous games against stellar competition, it wouldn’t be out of line to expect another standout performance from the former left guard.

“Did Texas provide the blueprint for containing Jeremiah Smith?”

Texas is going to do everything they can to keep Jeremiah Smith from beating them. The problem with that plan is that Jeremiah Smith isn’t the only player on the Ohio State offense that can cause some problems. The Longhorns’ zone-heavy defensive scheme may limit Smith, but there isn’t really any way to stop him. As long as quarterback Will Howard is throwing accurate passes, catches are going to be made. The targets, however, may be lower than anticipated.

“There is nothing these safeties can’t do.”

If you are an Ohio State fan, you need to enjoy Lathan Ransom and Jordan Hancock while you still have them. Teaming with Caleb Downs, this trio is the best group of starting safeties to ever play together for the Buckeyes. They are completely interchangeable and perfectly sound. They all tackle, they cover, they’re smart, and you can trust them to make a play when it needs to be made. That will continue against the Longhorns.

“Emeka Egbuka is the perfect Buckeye.”

Emeka Egbuka has put up more stats than most Buckeyes, and could end up with more receiving numbers than anybody at Ohio State before him. He is eight catches and 146 yards away from owning OSU’s career records in receptions and yards, but through it all, he’s never once talked about himself or his stats. He’s always been a team-first guy who can be counted on to play wherever his team needs him. Egbuka can beat man or zone, will make any kind of catch, and also shows the next generation how to do it the right way.

“And we get to end the season by beating Notre Dame?”

What could be better than this?

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