Travel Day: Ohio State fans head to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl; team arrives Wednesday night

10TV’s Dom Tiberi and Nicole Shearin talk outside of Eddie George’s Grill at CMH before taking off for the Ohio State vs. Texas game.


Surging Ohio State to face tenacious Texas in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in the CFP title game

Texas will be a whole lot closer to home than Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

The Buckeyes appear to be a whole lot closer to Atlanta.

That's where the winner of the Cotton Bowl, which doubles as a College Football Playoff semifinal this year, will be heading next for the national championship game.

But first, two powerhouse college football programs meet Jan. 10 at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium.

No. 6 Ohio State (12-2, CFP No. 8 seed) was favored by nearly a touchdown in many early Cotton Bowl betting lines, reflecting the confidence generated by the Buckeyes' optimization of their bountiful talent over their last two games. Ohio State has looked like the best team in the nation since the first 12-team CFP began last month.

Coach Ryan Day's team has rebounded from two regular-season losses to rout a pair of elite opponents by a combined 45 points. Ohio State beat No. 7 Tennessee 42-17 in Columbus before jumping to an early 34-point lead in a 41-21 thrashing of top-ranked Oregon in the 111th Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

“There’s kind of an intangible thing that you can’t describe (in) the chemistry that we have on this team,” Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka said. “And we just really don’t want it to end. These are some of my best friends in the world. Obviously, no matter what we do, no matter if we keep winning, it’s going to come to an end soon. So we’re just taking in all the moments and just trying to push for one more game to spend with each other.”

Beating the previously unbeaten Ducks in handy fashion underscored the immensity of the Buckeyes' talent — and it made a strong argument in favor of the 12-team playoff, since a team with Ohio State's two losses easily could have been left out of previous playoff formats with smaller fields.

No. 4 Texas (13-2, CFP No. 5 seed) only has to travel 200 miles north from Austin to Arlington for its second straight trip to the CFP semifinals, needing one win to reach the Longhorns' first CFP championship game.

The Longhorns have been much less convincing than the Buckeyes in their first two CFP victories, but the Texas train somehow keeps rolling in coach Steve Sarkisian's fourth season.

Georgia is the only team this season to beat the Longhorns, who have rebounded from their overtime SEC title game loss to the Bulldogs by knocking off Clemson 38-24 and then outlasting Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime to win a wild Peach Bowl.

Texas barely survived the Sun Devils after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter, missing two late field goals and then throwing a clutch TD pass on fourth and 13 in overtime to keep the game alive.

“The one thing that I know about our group is when our backs are against the wall and when our best is needed, our best shows up time and time again,” Sarkisian said. “The resiliency that these guys showed (in the Peach Bowl) was something as a coach makes you really proud.”

[BarbaraDavis-fy]

Nicole’s number of suitcases is so irrelevant 🙄

[ianpeng]

I am in Austin and I pray for Buckeye win big. Go bucks!

[judymcguire]

i wish i was at the airport waiting for my flight to Dallas.Drinking a beer at the Eddie George grill! Go Bucks!

[jamesdudley]

Said it before and I’ll repeat that players didn’t lose Michigan game the coaches did but hopefully they learned from it.

[LifestyleTuneup]

Not so fast, my friend. I’m listening from SoCal, and I’m quite sure Buckeye Fans are listening/watching from all over the world.

No disrespect. Much love.
Go Bucks!

[GregB]

OhioMaga believes in a victory come Friday. Cheer extra loud for this se of us who cannot attend. 💯🔥💪👏

[mdeborah]

I wish I could go and cheer for my Buckeyes ❤

[buckeye]

I am always nervous when everyone and picks the Bucks. Everyone picked them over the Ducks the first time and against TTUN north and we know how those went. I hope I am wrong but I get very worried they get over confident. Its hard not to.

[jv]

Dom looks perturbed with the young reporter. Dom has been doing this since I was a kid.

[rufuspatrick]

The Cotton Bowl should be played on New Year's Day.

[jgdwick]

Great job you two are fun to watch!, , , have a great time !! GO BUCKS MAGA!!!!

[judymcguire]

Girl! you gotta have boots for Dallas! my daughter lives there. i bring 2 suitcases there too. Ya never know what you're gonna do! Have so much fun!

[Howard-bjjq]

GO BUCKEYES!!! I hope you guys have a great trip and a win for OSU!!!
Dump the boots and hat, lady. Thought you were a Buckeye fan!!
On second thought, dump the girl!!

[joe]

Looks fun!!! I was at the natty in Arizona when Tressel was coaching. Lots of Buckeyes were there