The semifinals of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff continue on Friday with a marquee showdown in the Cotton Bowl between (5) Texas and (8) Ohio State. The winner of this game will face either (6) Penn State) or (7) Notre Dame in the national title game on Jan.

The Buckeyes and Longhorns square off in the Cotton Bowl to see who will play in the national championship game

Eric Cohen revealed his College Football Playoff semifinal picks for Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Cotton Bowl on Friday

Would the real Longhorn defense please stand up? Can Texas finish both drives and the game strong? Or will Ohio State simply continue bulldozing its postseason opponents?

No. 8 Ohio State will play No. 5 Texas in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Here are bracket predictions for the matchup.

The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes will square off against the No. 5 Texas Longhorns in a College Football Playoff national semifinal at the Cotton Bowl today. This game is available to watch on multiple streaming services for free.

The stunning home loss to Michigan in the regular-season finale has brought out the best in the most talented team in the nation, allowing Ohio State to dismantle Tennessee and its top-10 defense, 42-17, before embarrassing No. 1 Oregon by scoring the first 34 points of the Rose Bowl .

On the back end, Texas has allowed only eight passing scores this year and ranks No. 3 in pass defense success rate. All-American cornerback Jahdae Barron had a standout season with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups and is a key cog in the hopes of slowing down Ohio State receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka.

Ohio State takes on Texas in the Cotton Bowl, which serves as a semifinal in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes are favored.