The 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals are less than a week away and there's set to be some electric matchups. The No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers will take on the No. 9 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl. The No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the No. 10 ranked Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl on New Years Eve, the No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs take on the No. 6 ranked Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl and the No. 4 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the No. 5 ranked Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl.
Game: The Cotton Bowl (Arlington, TX)
Date: Wednesday - December 31
Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Ohio State -9.5; O/U 42.5 (FanDuel)
Let's kick off our preview of the Cotton Bowl with an overview look at the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
HEAD COACH - Ryan Day
Record at Ohio State: 82-11
Day was officially named the head coach at Ohio State in December of 2018 after taking over the Urban Meyer legacy in Columbus. Since he was named head coach, Day has led the Buckeyes to an 82-11 overall record, multiple playoff appearances and most recently a National Championship last season over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This season, Ohio State went undefeated in the regular season picking up signature wins over Texas in week one, Illinois on the road and ending the losing streak against Michigan at the end of the regular season.
Unfortunately, in their first appearance in the Big Ten Championship game since 2020, the Buckeyes fell to the Indiana Hoosiers 13-10. It was a rugged defensive battle but the takeaways were significantly different from the SEC Championship game. Ohio State is now the 2nd ranked team in the playoffs and is looking to repeat as national champions.
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Hartline (1st Season)
Defensive Coordinator: Matt Patricia (1st Season)
OHIO STATE 2025 SCHEDULE
STATISTICAL OVERVIEW
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing: RB Bo Jackson - 168 att., 1,035 yards, 6.2 YPC, 5 TD; RB James Peoples - 61 att., 344 yards, 5.6 YPC, 3 TD; RB C.J. Donaldson - 89 att., 330 yards, 3.7 YPC, 10 TD; RB Isaiah West - 59 att., 310 yards, 5.3 YPC, 2 TD
Passing: QB Julian Sayin - 279-356, 78.4%, 3,323 yards, 9.3 YPA, 31 TD, 6 INT, 182.1 Rating
Receiving: WR Jeremiah Smith - 80 rec., 1,086 yards, 13.6 YPC, 11 TD; WR Carnell Tate - 48 rec., 838 yards, 17.5 YPC, 9 TD; TE Max Klare - 43 rec., 448 yards, 10.4 YPC, 2 TD; WR Brandon Inniss - 32 rec., 237 yards, 7.4 YPC, 3 TD; RB Bo Jackson - 19 rec., 200 yards, 10.5 YPC, 1 TD; TE Will Kacmarek - 12 rec., 140 yards, 11.7 YPC, 2 TD
Tackles: LB Sonny Styles - 81; LB Arvell Reese - 62; DE Caden Curry - 60; S Caleb Downs - 60; DT Kayden McDonald - 57; S Jaylen McClain - 50; LB Payton Pierce - 42; CB Davison Igbinosun - 42; NB Lorenzo Styles - 30
Tackles For Loss: DE Caden Curry - 16.5; DE Kenyatta Jackson - 11.0; LB Arvell Reese - 10.0; DT Kayden McDonald - 8.0; S Caleb Downs - 5.0; LB Sonny Styles - 5.0
Interceptions: CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. - 2; CB Davison Igbinosun - 2; S Caleb Downs - 1; LB Sonny Styles- 1; LB Payton Pierce - 1
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