ARLINGTON, Texas — The Ohio State Buckeyes hold a slim 14-7 lead over the Texas Longhorns at halftime in the Cotton Bowl, marking the first of the two College Football Playoff semifinal matchups. The first half saw dramatic momentum shifts and impressive plays, with Ohio State taking back control in the final moments of the second quarter after Texas had just tied the game.
Ohio State’s explosive playmaker TreVeyon Henderson delivered the most memorable moment of the first half. On a screen pass, Henderson broke free for a 75-yard touchdown, following a set of lead blockers down the field for the score. The play came right after Texas had equalized, and it gave Ohio State a 14-7 advantage as the clock wound down to halftime.
The Longhorns finally found some offensive rhythm in the second quarter after a lackluster opening frame. With just 29 seconds left in the half, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers connected with Jaydon Blue for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Ewers kept the drive alive with a gutsy 4th-and-1 conversion, where Arch Manning took a run to the right side for the critical first down. That was followed by a remarkable spin move by Silas Bolden, who kept his balance to secure another first down in the red zone. Ewers then hit Blue for the score, pulling the Longhorns even just before the break.
Earlier in the game, Ohio State had struck first with a smooth 64-yard, 10-play drive. The possession was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run from Quinshon Judkins, giving the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. However, after that opening drive, the Texas defense clamped down, holding Ohio State to just 14 yards on their next 11 plays in the second quarter, including forcing two quick three-and-outs.
While the Texas defense was finding its groove, the Longhorns’ offense struggled for most of the first half. Their opening possession into Ohio State territory was promising but ended in a failed 4th-down pass attempt by Ewers, who looked for DeAndre Moore but couldn’t connect. Texas was then forced to punt on their next four possessions, including a particularly frustrating series that saw them lose 11 yards. However, their final possession of the half was their best by far, as it ended with the touchdown that tied the game.
As the second half begins, Ohio State will take possession first, looking to extend their lead, while Texas hopes their momentum from the late touchdown will carry them forward into the final 30 minutes of what promises to be a thrilling College Football Playoff semifinal.
