Texas football (13-2, 7-1 SEC) faces a red-hot Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 7-2 Big Ten) team that has blown out two really good P4 teams in the College Football Playoff. Texas is in the national semifinals of the College Football Playoff for the second postseason in a row, taking on Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, on Jan. 10.
College Football Playoff semis at the Cotton Bowl pits Texas football's talented and deep roster against a title favorite in Ohio State
Both teams boast plenty of talented and skilled players on each side of the ball, including among the underclassmen. Despite Ohio State having plenty of experience at multiple position groups on each side of the ball, the Buckeyes boast some of the top freshmen in the nation in college football.
Superstar true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the headliner among the underclassmen for the Buckeyes. Ohio State's receiving corps also has a couple of other freshmen and sophomores who have made significant contributions this season.
The Longhorns have some big-time contributors among freshmen and sophomores, especially along the defensive front. This is a huge opportunity for some of Texas's top underclassmen to make an impact on one of the biggest games they might ever play in their collegiate careers with the Longhorns in the Playoff semis on Friday.
Here are three freshmen for the Longhorns who can breakout in the Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State on Jan. 10.
Jerrick Gibson, RB
Texas's ground game didn't make the impact on the game in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals double-overtime win vs. Arizona State that many expected against the smaller Sun Devil defensive front seven. The Longhorns rushed for just over 50 yards and one touchdown by quarterback Quinn Ewers in the fourth quarter against the Sun Devils.
After rushing for a season-high 292 yards against Clemson, Texas's ground game was stifled against a stingy Arizona State defensive front.
It's become pretty clear that the Longhorns struggle to establish the tone physically at the line of scrimmage against some of the better run-fit teams in the P4. That is a major concern for the Longhorns going into a matchup against the No. 5 ranked rushing defense in the FBS for the Buckeyes.
Texas needs to be able to find other ways to move the ball against Ohio State's defense on first and second down plays to start moving the chains and put points on the board early in the game.
If Texas can set the tone with the vertical and horizontal screen passing game, that could open up more room in the box for the Longhorns to be able to run the football with Quintrevion Wisner, Jaydon Blue, and Jerrick Gibson.
Texas didn't give Wisner or Blue much of a chance to make big plays happen against Arizona State. The Longhorns' running backs were hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on over 40 percent of rushing attempts against the Sun Devils' front seven.
In a world where the Longhorns are trying to run the ball up the middle, Gibson could be an answer for the ground game against Ohio State given his power rushing style and ability to fight for yards after contact.
Gibson is Texas's most physical running back. If the Longhorns can establish a physical ground game against the Buckeyes' defensive front seven, Gibson could make an impact on this game for Texas's ground attack in short-yardage situations and on third and fourth-down plays.