The Ohio State Buckeyes are just one spot behind the No. 2 seed after Sunday’s final CFP rankings are released and will now face the seventh-ranked Texas A&M Aggies or the 10th-ranked Miami Hurricanes in the quarterfinals. The game will be played at 7:30 ET on New Year’s Eve at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. So what is Ohio State’s record and history in the Cotton Bowl?
We look back at every Ohio State appearance in the Cotton Bowl, along with a brief history of what happened. This has become more frequent over the past few years and I have some very fond memories of it recently.
advertise
Let’s take a closer look…
1987: 51st Classic — Ohio State vs. Texas A&M
Ohio State defeated the Aggies 28-12 to earn its first appearance in the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes entered the conference with a 9-3 record and were tied for the Big Ten title despite losing to Michigan in the final week of the season. The defense was led by five interceptions, including six interceptions by Chris Spielman and Michael Key. On offense, quarterback Jim Karsatos threw for 195 yards through the air and wide receiver Cris Carter had 61 yards on four catches.
2017: 82nd Classic — Ohio State vs. USC
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Parris Campbell (21) runs the ball and USC Trojans cornerback Isaiah Langley (24) tackles during the third quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between the Ohio State Buckeyes and USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. [Joshua A. Bickel/Dispatch]
2017 was a strange season for Ohio State, highlighted by a loss to Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma State in Columbus and then a blowout loss at Iowa State, where JT Barrett threw four interceptions. The Buckeyes missed the CFP but had a bowl game against Sam Darnold and the USC Trojans. Darnold, a top-five pick in the NFL draft, had no touchdowns and an interception on 45 attempts, although he finished with 356 passing yards. Ohio State controlled the game down the field, with JT Barrett and JK Dobbins rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes defeated USC 24-7 at Jerry’s World.
advertise
2023: 88th Classic — Ohio State vs. Missouri
December 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) tackles Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) during the fourth quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State lost 14-3.
The final year of the four-team playoff ended with Ohio State missing out on the CFP after losing to Michigan in Week 12. They were sent to the Cotton Bowl to face a 10-2 Missouri team, a game in which the Buckeyes had little risk and a number of stars opting out, including Marvin Harrison Jr. and nine others. As it turned out, that left a young roster to contend with against the Tigers.
Backup quarterback Devin Brown was injured early, forcing freshman Lincoln Kienholz to take the field, and he struggled, completing 6 of 17 passes for 86 yards. Freshman TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 72 yards on 19 carries and Emeka Egbuka had 63 yards on six catches. Ohio State lost 14-3, a game that had little value and made everyone feel like the night couldn’t end sooner.
advertise
2024: 89th Classic — Ohio State vs. Texas
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) sacks Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3), who fumbled a fumble during the second half of a College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. Sawyer returned the ball for a touchdown and Ohio State won 28-14.
The game became one of Ohio State’s most memorable of the decade and ultimately helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. Jeremiah Smith was held back by a stellar Texas defense and ended up with just three catches, leaving Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka to handle the majority of the receiving duties. Tate had seven catches for 87 yards and Egbuka had five catches for 51 yards. The most impactful receiving performance, however, came from running back TreVeyon Henderson.
With less than 30 seconds left in the first half, Henderson caught a screen pass from Will Howard and ran 75 yards for a touchdown, giving Ohio State a 14-7 lead. Quinshon Judkins rushed for two touchdowns, but the decisive moments came from the defense and Jack Sawyer.
advertise
Texas trailed by seven points heading toward the Ohio State one-yard line with just over two minutes left. The Buckeyes held Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner to seven yards and held the Longhorns back to eight. On fourth-and-goal, former Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers was sacked by Jack Sawyer for a 9-yard loss. Sawyer caught the ball and ran it back 83 yards to seal the victory. Ohio State won 28-14 and defeated Notre Dame for the national championship.
Ohio State has established a strong record in the Cotton Bowl, and whether the Buckeyes face Miami or Texas A&M, it should be ready for anything. Winning the Big Ten title and securing a No. 1 seed is great, but facing adversity before the CFP might end up being just what Ryan Day and the 2025 Buckeyes need.
Contact/follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinions. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeye Line: Ohio State football in the Cotton Bowl: A look back through the years