Game updates, CFP semifinals live score

After narrowly escaping Arizona State in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, Texas football continues its march toward the program’s first championship game since 2010 in a semifinal against Ohio State on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

As a fifth seed, the Longhorns are underdogs against the No. 8 Buckeyes, marking the first time since a trip to Alabama in September 2023 that the Longhorns are not the favorite. Texas has an experienced squad competing in the CFP for the second straight year, led by Quinn Ewers, a quarterback with three years of experience. But a deep Ohio State University squad, buoyed by the best defense in the country, has gained momentum in the postseason, defeating Tennessee and top-ranked Oregon.

The winner of this game advances to the CFP final against Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20th.

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Texas vs. Ohio State score updates

1	2	3	4	F
OHIO STATE	7	0	0	0	0
TEXAS	0	0	0	0	0

More:Texas Football vs. Ohio State: The UT defense faces another mobile quarterback in Will Howard

End 1Q: Ohio State 7, Texas 0

Not the best opening quarter for Texas, but the Longhorns are close to getting the ball back after stopping Ohio State at midfield. Ohio State totaled 117 yards on two drives in the period.

4:19 1Q: Ohio State 7, Texas 0

The Longhorns’ second drive stalled at the Ohio State 48-yard line. Texas had reached the Ohio State 39, but a Cam Williams false start and a Buckeyes sack pushed Texas back to midfield.

7:29 1Q: Ohio State 7, Texas 0

Ohio State dismantled the Texas defense on its opening drive, a 10-play, 64-yard march capped by a 9-yard TD run by Quinshon Judkins. The Buckeyes made it look easy as QB Will Howard went 4 of 6 for 44 yards. Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has some work to do at first.

11:42 1Q: Texas 0, Ohio State 0

Texas fails on the first big decision of the game. On a fourth-and-3 from Ohio State’s 36-yard line, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers throws the ball just past DeAndre Moore Jr., who was well covered on the play. Bert Auburn or Will Stone? We didn’t see a Texas kicker attempt a 53-yard field goal.

Quinn Ewers: “I don’t expect to play college football next season.”

In a sit-down interview between Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Ewers said he doesn’t expect to play college football next season. Ewers, a three-year starter for the Longhorns, has one year of college eligibility left but has indicated since last spring that the 2024 campaign would likely be his final collegiate season.

Until the interview with Thamel was broadcast on Saturday, Ewers had made no concrete statement about his future. Sophomore Arch Manning, a backup the past two seasons, is expected to take over the starting role for Texas next season.

Could Will Stone start at kicker instead of Bert Auburn?

Could Texas use Will Stone at kicker instead of Bert Auburn? Based on Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s comments earlier in the week, as well as some media reports saying Stone will get the start, this is definitely a possibility.

“We’ll watch it before the game, make a decision and go,” Sarkisian told reporters during the media release on Thursday.

Texas kicker Bert Auburn is the school’s all-time leader in field goals made and was responsible for a team-high 112 points this season. However, Auburn is just 16 of 25 on field goals this season, and its 64% success rate ranks 105th nationally. Auburn has missed four field goals in its last three games, and two of those misses came in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter of the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 as Texas tried to break possession.

If Texas benches Auburn, Stone would be his logical replacement. Stone is an Austin native and a junior at Texas. He has never attempted a field goal at the college level. But Stone has handled kickoff duties for Texas the past three seasons and is on scholarship. Stone made a 54-yard field goal during his senior season at Regents High in 2021.

What channel is the Texas vs. Ohio State game on today?

Texas’ game against Ohio State in the CFP semifinals will be broadcast on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and Fubo, which is offering a free trial of its streaming service.

More:Texas vs. Ohio State: Longtime Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers reflects on his time as a Buckeye

History of Texas vs. Ohio State

Series balance: Texas leads 2-1
Texas’ last win: Texas 24, Ohio State 21 (January 5, 2009)
Ohio State’s last win: Ohio State 24, Texas 7 (September 11, 2006)

Texas vs Ohio State predictions

Thomas Jones, Texas beat writer

Ohio State 27, Texas 25

TEXAS GETS THE BOAT

The Longhorns will have home-court advantage, but shaky special teams will prove the difference in a game that could see as many as two dozen players in the 2025 NFL Draft. Don’t be surprised if some of Sarkisian’s fourth-down calls at critical moments in the game reflect his concern about the kicking game.

Cedric Golden, columnist

Texas 34, Ohio State 30

QUINN POWERFUL FOR TEXAS AGAIN

Quinn Ewers saved the season against Arizona State, and if Texas can get some semblance of a running game against the No. 5 rushing defense in the country, the offense will open up for Ewers to make the play-action game work. It’s a fourth quarter game and the Horns are going to get it done.

Danny Davis, Texas beat writer

Texas

SPECIAL WIN FOR TEXAS

Both Texas and Ohio State have great defenses and outstanding offensive players, so this is a coin flip for me. The Longhorns will shock the world and the oddsmakers in Las Vegas. Not by winning (a No. 5 seed beating a No. 8 seed is no surprise), but by playing on special teams to earn a trip to the national championship game.

David Eckert, Texas Insider

Ohio State 31, Texas 24

The balancing act is enough for Ohio State

Ohio State is the more balanced team in this matchup and that will be the reason the Buckeyes leave Arlington with a win. Texas has leaned on its dominant defense to compensate for an underperforming and error-prone offense and failing special teams, but that wasn’t enough in the only two games the Longhorns have played against a team with comparable athleticism and size.

Cotton Bowl Betting Odds

Friday’s BetMGM lines and odds:

Spread: Ohio at 6
Over/Under: 53.5
Money line: Texas (+250), Ohio State (-195)

Texas vs. Ohio State injury updates

Texas: RB CJ Baxter (out), RB Christian Clark (out), RB Velton Gardner (out), DB Derek Williams Jr. (out), QB Trey Owens (out), OL Cam Williams (questionable), WR Isaiah Bond ( probably).

Ohio State: OL Zen Michalski (out), WR Reis Stocksdale (out), RB Rashid SeSay (out), OL Seth McLaughlin, OL Josh Simmons (out), TE Jace Middleton (questionable), WR Nolan Baudo (questionable).

Weather update for Texas vs. Ohio State

This game will be played indoors, although North Texas is expecting temperatures near freezing.

Texas Football 2024 Schedule

August 31st: Texas 52, Colorado State 0
September 7th: Texas 31, Michigan 12
September 14th: Texas 56, UTSA 7
September 21st: Texas 51, Louisiana Monroe 3
September 28th: Texas 35, Mississippi State 13*
Oct. 12: Texas 34, Oklahoma 3
Oct 19: Georgia 30, Texas 15
Oct. 26: Texas 27, Vanderbilt 24
November 9th: Texas 49, Florida 17
November 16th: Texas 20, Arkansas 10
November 23rd: Texas 31, Kentucky 14
November 30th: Texas 17, Texas A&M 9
Dec. 7: Georgia 22, Texas 19 (OT), SEC title game
Dec. 21: Texas 38, Clemson 24, CFP first round
January 1st: Texas 39, Arizona State 31 (OT), CFP quarterfinals

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Game updates, CFP semifinals live score

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