The Ohio State Buckeyes snuffed out the Texas Longhorns to continue their journey in the first ever 12 team playoffs. Ohio State is set to meet Notre Dame on January 20th for all the glory that a championship brings to a program. Their victory over Texas was their smallest margin for a win in these playoffs so far with a score of 28-14. This required them to play differently than they did against Tennessee and Oregon, but the Buckeyes have a long list of unique identities.

Jeremiah Smith was taken out of the game by the Longhorns, who played a three-man shell over him with a player designated to follow his route no matter which direction or type he ran. Smith finished his Cotton Bowl performance with just 3 yards on 1 catch, vastly different than his dominance in the first round and Rose Bowl. Emeka Egbuka stepped up in Smith's suffocation and produced early in the game yet finished with just 51 yards. The problem Texas faced was the fact that Ohio State has a stable of weapons and taking out one or two players ends up leaving more open. Carnell Tate, a receiver who would be the number one guy on most teams, emerged late in the game and recorded the most yards in the air with 87. Tate was the go-to man in crucial situations and converted a pair of crucial third downs to extend Buckeye drives. Ohio State found ways to involve not just Tate and Egbuka but running backs and tight ends in the passing game.

One thing Texas simply couldn't afford were the explosive plays. They were able to physically challenge Ohio State with their defensive line and thus could leave more defensive backs in different formations to focus on the pass. But that doesn't matter if you give up one or two back-breaking plays and allow the Buckeyes to score quick on long plays. Texas was seconds away from going into halftime with a tie. Then Will Howard under pressure dumped a checkdown pass to TreVeyon Henderson and he took off for 75 yards and put Ohio State back on top heading into the locker room.

Ohio State had too many different ways to win the game and they found one to do it. They have proven all season that they can beat teams on the ground with Henderson and his pair Quinshon Judkins. Ryan Day and Chip Kelly can scheme up “murder-ball” runs and force teams to bring in more run support only to just take the top off the defense with any one of their receivers. The Buckeyes can beat teams through the air all game and still throw effectively when there is a three man front and eight falling back. No matter the type of game they need to run on offense, they can do it. Defense has had to step up in the tighter situations, though and they certainly did in Arlington.

The game was close. Texas limited just enough production from the Buckeyes offense to make the game close. They were down 7 and a yard away from a tying touchdown. The Buckeyes in their losses to Oregon and Michigan had very little pressure and no sacks. As I pointed out after the Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes changed all of that and focused heavily during the playoffs on getting to the quarterback. They did so throughout the game and did so in the biggest moment of the Cotton Bowl to ensure a goal line stand to seal the game. The Buckeyes took a 1st and goal from the 1-yard line and turned it into a 4th and goal from the 8. Senior edge rusher Jack Sawyer is a big-time player. Big time players make big time plays in big time moments. Sawyer did exactly that. On the biggest play of the game, Sawyer broke free and hit his former roommate Quinn Ewers as he tried to get the ball off, causing a strip sack. The ball took a Buckeye friendly bounce and Sawyer fielded the ball for an 83-yard touchdown to go up 14 with 2 minutes left. Texas would get the ball back immediately and Ewers would throw a desperation pass on 3rd down only to have Caleb Downs, one of the best players in college football lurk the ball and catch the game ending interception.

The Buckeyes are rolling hot and heavy into Atlanta. They are a team that is powered by Ryan Day's vengeance and can win with their offense score 50 points or 20. Texas held the Ohio State offense to 21, which was the number they hoped to get to and still the defense stood tall and ended the Longhorns' season. The team from Columbus will face a challenging Notre Dame squad to finish their year and attempt to end the nonsense narratives around Coach Day and his Bucks. Notre Dame is a serious competitor and, in all likelihood, the second-best team around. Ohio State is something special this year and for the Irish to prevail, it will take perfection.