Well, it’s official now.
A day after Penn State clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals with a win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, both Texas and Ohio State made their reservations on New Year’s Day – in very different circumstances.
Texas survived, literally, a physical, knock-down, drag-out game against Arizona State in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl on Wednesday afternoon, and Ohio State? They scored early and often in a surprising double-digit win over top-ranked Oregon.
All that’s needed now is for the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to be played, which matches Notre Dame against Georgia, and the semifinals will be set.
One of them already is. Texas, which has played in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic more than any other program, returns to Arlington to do so again, and this time, it’s also a CFP semifinal. Coach Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns (13-2) will face Ohio State (12-2) on Friday, Jan. 10, and the winner heads to the national championship game Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Penn State awaits the ND-Georgia winner, and the Nittany Lions will play that team in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9.
The Sugar Bowl, of course, was postponed until Thursday afternoon, amid the investigation into a terrorist attack in New Orleans in the early-morning hours Wednesday that tragically killed 15 people. The game is expected to be played as planned Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern, 3 Central.
The good folks at the Cotton Bowl are proudly announcing their matchup, and we don’t blame them. Texas-Ohio State should be a fantastic game.
Here’s the official release, including ticket information and more.
From special reports
ARLINGTON, Texas – The 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is set with eighth-seeded Ohio State (12-2, 7-2 Big Ten Conference) taking on fifth-seeded Texas (13-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) on Friday, Jan. 10 at AT&T Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Eastern / 6:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio.
The Buckeyes advance to the 89th Classic on the heels of their 41-21 triumph over top-seeded Oregon in the 2025 CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. The Longhorns return to the Classic following their 39-31 double-overtime victory over fourth-seeded Arizona State in the 2025 CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Ohio State returns to the Cotton Bowl Classic for the second straight season and fourth time overall (2-1 record) with its last appearance coming against Missouri in the 88th edition last season (Dec. 29, 2023). Texas has played in the Classic more than any other program, back for its 23rd appearance (11-10-1 record) with its last coming in a 35-20 win over LSU in the 67th edition on Jan. 1, 2003.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns are meeting on the gridiron for the fourth time with Texas holding a 2-1 series advantage. Their last meeting came in a 24-21 Texas victory in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5, 2009.
The Jan. 10 game date for this season’s Cotton Bowl Classic marks its latest game date, three days later than the 75th edition between LSU and Texas A&M on Jan. 7, 2011. The Classic is scheduled for a primetime kickoff for the second year in a row.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is hosting a CFP Semifinal for the fourth time (80th in 2015, 83rd in 2018, 86th in 2021 and 89th in 2025) and is the final game to be played before the CFP National Championship on Monday, Jan. 20 in Atlanta. AT&T Stadium hosting its fifth CFP Semifinal having played host to the 107th Rose Bowl Game, which was a 2021 CFP Semifinal matchup between Alabama and Notre Dame. The 2025 CFP Semifinal at the 89th Classic is the 16th Cotton Bowl Classic to be played at AT&T Stadium.
Tickets are sold out via the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Ticket Office. Secondary market tickets may be available via SeatGeek, the official ticket provider of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Click here to view available 89th Classic resale tickets. Suites are available for purchase by calling 817-892-4470 or sending an e-mail to suites@dallascowboys.net.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Premium Hospitality is the exclusive, official hospitality experience for the 2025 CFP Semifinal at the 89th Classic. Premium suite and ticket packages with access to top-tier game day seating and private events such as the Tall Cotton Tailgate presented by TicketeStore and Cotton Bowl Live! presented by Dr Pepper are available at REVELxp.com/CottonBowl.
Ticket holders for the 89th Classic must use either the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic app, available for download on iOS and Android devices or the SeatGeek app to manage tickets and parking to enter AT&T Stadium on game day. Fans and followers can keep up with the latest information on bowl week and game day activities and events at GameDay.CottonBowl.com.
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