Dallas, TX – The road to the College Football Playoff National Championship made its next stop on Wednesday night as the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes arrived in Dallas, setting the stage for their semi-final clash at AT&T Stadium.
Fresh off their respective playoff victories, both teams stepped off their planes with a mix of confidence and determination. For Texas, the journey included a thrilling overtime victory against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Ohio State, on the other hand, booked their trip to Dallas with a dominant win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
A Familiar Setting for Texas’ Ewers
The Longhorns were the first to arrive and wasted no time addressing the media. Among the players, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, a Southlake native, spoke about his comfort level playing at AT&T Stadium, a venue he knows well from his high school days.
“I’ve played in it a couple of times, dating back to high school,” Ewers shared. “I really do enjoy playing there. Obviously, it’s close to where I’m from. The Dallas area is a little different. It’s nice. I think I’ve lost one game there?”
For Ewers, the return to familiar territory could provide a unique advantage as Texas prepares to face one of the most complete teams in the country.
Ohio State Stays Locked In
The Buckeyes arrived shortly after Texas, exuding a business-like focus. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka summed up the team’s mentality, emphasizing that their mission remains far from complete.
“I have been here for four years, and I have absolutely no hardware to show for it,” Egbuka said. “That’s really on the forefront of our minds. We’re glad we were able to give Buckeye Nation a couple of good wins, but we are nowhere near done.”
For Ohio State, the trip to Dallas is another step in their quest for postseason redemption after coming up short in recent years.
History in the Making
This marks just the fourth meeting between Texas and Ohio State, with the Longhorns holding a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series. Their first encounter in 2005 remains one of the most iconic games in each team’s history, as Texas edged out a 25-22 victory in a thriller.
With both teams touching down in Dallas, preparations for the semi-final are officially underway. Coaches and players alike are focused on the monumental task ahead, knowing that a win will bring them one step closer to the ultimate goal—a National Championship.
Kickoff for the Cotton Bowl is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 PM Central Time at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Written by: Adrian Beecher
Image Credit: James Leyva
