The Ohio State Buckeyes are scheduled to play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl for the second straight year. We take a look back on how they have faired in the history of this game
The Ohio State Buckeyes were selected to compete in the second round of the College Football Playoffs in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. They will take on the winner of the first round matchup between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Miami Hurricanes.
It was later determined that the committee decided to put the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl so to avoid a home game for the Miami Hurricanes, which makes a ton of sense. Not only does the location seem to fit for the Buckeyes, but it is impossible to have your mind not go back to one year ago inside Jerry World.
The game last year was one of just three prior Cotton Bowls for the Buckeyes. We look back at each of Ohio State's four appearances in the Cotton Bowl.
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1987: The 51st Classic - Ohio State vs. Texas A&M
Ohio State won their inaugural appearance in the Cotton Bowl by taking down the Aggies by a score of 28-12.
The Buckeyes came into the game with a 9-3 record and were Co-Big Ten Champions after a loss to the Michigan Wolverines in their final week of the year. The Buckeyes used a nice day from quarterback Jim Karsatos, who finished the day just 10-21 for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
His leading receiver was Cris Carter, who finished with four catches for 61 yards. Chris Spielman was the ledaer of the team on defense and was named the most outstanding player of the game.
2017: The 82nd Classic - Ohio State vs. USC
The Buckeyes took it to quarterback Sam Darnold and the USC Trojans in the 82nd edition of the Cotton Bowl. USC had all the hype coming into the game, and Darnold was poised to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Buckeyes took care of business by a final score of 24-7.
Quarterback JT Barrett did it all for the Buckeyes, finishing 11-17 for 114 yards while carrying it 6 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes used strong defense and complementary football to pull away from the Trojans.
2023: The 88th Classic - Ohio State vs. Missouri
The Ohio State Buckeyes just missed making the College Football Playoff, and their play reflected it. They had several of their star players sit out, leaving a bunch of young players a chance to play for their first real action. It didn't go as planned.
The Buckeyes fell to Missouri by a final score of 14-3. Freshman Lincoln Kienholz was 6-17 for 86 yards and no touchdowns. Freshman TreVeyon Henderson finished the game with 19 carries for 72 yards, and a young Emeka Egbuka hauled in six catches for 63 yards.
The Buckeyes fell 14-3 in a game that was largely a waste of time.
2024: The 89th Classic - Ohio State vs. Texas
Captain. Jack. Sawyer.
Yes, this is when Jack Sawyer shook the entire college football world with a strip sack of his former roommate that he returned 89 yards on 4th and goal. The memory of that game was a wild one. Ohio State got the two game deciding plays by chance.
A screen pass with 30 seconds left in the first half on a throwaway play went for 75 yards, and then the 89 yard strip sack. It was the difference in their 28-14 win over the Texas Longhorns.
This punched Ohio State's ticket to the National Championship.
Whoever the Buckeyes get in that second round game will make for an amazing opponent and an amazing game. The Buckeyes have their work cut out for them, and their first chance will come on New Year's Eve in Dallas.