For the first time in the 2024 season, Texas Football (13-2, 7-1 SEC) will face the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in the College Football Playoff semifinals despite being the underdog. will be in the game. Next week at the Cotton Bowl. Texas State and Ohio State are two of the biggest programs in college football, and they will clash in a CFP semifinal filled with blue bloods.
Texas football faces a big challenge in the CFP semifinals with a 6-point lead against Ohio State.
Ohio State is now the favorite to not only defeat the Longhorns in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, but to win the entire College Football Playoff heading into the national championship game. .
This CFP semifinal matchup between Texas and Ohio State will feature two of the best offensive head coaching play-callers in college football, the Longhorns’ Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian.
Both defenses will always be challenged by these great offensive play callers and all the arsenals of talent and skill that both teams offer to the offense.
Here are three questionable Ohio State players the Longhorns will need to prepare for in the CFP semifinals on Jan. 10 at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas.
Emeka Egbuka, WR
Ohio State’s top receivers, senior Emeka Egbuka and true freshman Jeremiah Smith, are one of the best wideout duos in college football. Egbuka and Smith are a great receiver duo who can take advantage of almost any opposing defense with their ability to find seams in the secondary and penetrate downfield to create explosive plays.
Egbuka is a standout slot receiver at Ohio State, challenging opposing safeties over the top in a deep passing game, getting the ball into space and making defenders miss in the open field. Ohio State makes it a priority to get the ball into Egbuka’s hands and into space multiple times in most games.
He leads Ohio State in shortstops this season in targets and yards after the catch screened from behind the line of scrimmage (per PFF).
If Ohio State makes it to the CFP National Championship Game, Egbuka has a chance to become the Buckeyes’ all-time leading receiver in yards. He has already reached his second 1,000 receiving yard season and is entering his second season with double-digit receiving touchdowns this year and in 2022.
