AUSTIN, Texas — A season filled with so much promise for the Texas Longhorns football team has come to an end.
The Longhorns fell to perennial powerhouse Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night 28-14. The Buckeyes will now face Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
The game was tight through the first three quarters, with the squads deadlocked at seven and 14 for long stretches.
However, in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes pulled away.
Running back Quinshon Judkins scored a critical one-yard touchdown early on to push the Buckeyes lead to 21-14. The Longhorns then appeared primed to tie the game once more, driving all the way to the Buckeyes one-yard line, but the Longhorns were stymied once and for all, as defensive end Jack Sawyer returned a Quinn Ewers fumble 92 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to two scores, essentially delivering the game’s kill shot.
Ohio State never found themselves behind. The Longhorns found themselves playing catch-up throughout, reliant on big plays to keep up with the explosive and talent-rich Buckeyes.
Ewers and Buckeye quarterback Will Howard had a similar night statistically, with Howard tossing for 289 yards and Ewers throwing for 283. Ewers also tossed two touchdowns to Jaydon Blue.
However, Ewers was responsible for two key turnovers, including the aforementioned game-sealing fumble.
The Longhorns found themselves susceptible to big plays throughout the night, often at inopportune times. Shortly after scoring their first points of the game and capturing momentum just before halftime, the defense gave up a 75-yard receiving touchdown to TreVeyon Henderson to relinquish the lead right back. In the fourth quarter, the Longhorns allowed Howard run for 18 yards and to convert a 4th-and-2, which would lead to Judkins rushing for the go-ahead score just a few plays later.
The loss means the Longhorns will finish the 2024 football season with a 13-3 record. While the loss stings, the future looks to be bright on the Forty Acres, as the much anticipated Arch Manning era appears set to begin next season.