Ohio State Made College Football History With Cotton Bowl Win Over Texas

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nathan Dougherty | Last updated Jan 11, 2025 12:42 AM ET

Ohio State outlasted the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl, getting a big play late in the fourth quarter to come out with a 28-14 win and a trip to the national championship game.

In doing so, the Buckeyes also made some college football history.

As ESPN's "SportsCenter" noted, Ohio State tied the all-time record for most wins against AP Top 5 teams in a single season, winning four overall. The feat has been accomplished three other times -- LSU in 2019, USC in 1967, and Notre Dame in 1943.

Ohio State's latest Top 5 win was the biggest of the season, knocking off No. 5 Texas to set up a showdown with Notre Dame for the national championship.

The Buckeyes held a 7-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Longhorns drove deep into Ohio State territory and had a chance to tie on 4th-and-goal with a little more than two minutes remaining. The Buckeyes defense forced a fumble on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, with Jack Sawyer scooping it up and returning 83 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

After the game, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said his team has come a long way this season.

"About a month ago, a lot of people counted us out. And these guys went to work, this team, these leaders, the captains, the staff," Day said. "Everybody in the building believed. And because of that, I believe we won the game in the fourth quarter."

Ohio State will have a chance to break the college football record of wins against Top 5 opponents when they face No. 5 Notre Dame on Jan. 20.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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