Ryan Wingo, WR
Texas's receiving corps will be a major focal point of this game against Ohio State. Not only is Texas expected to have junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond more healthy than he's been in the past month since the first half of the postseason and the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs in early December, but head coach Steve Sarkisian can also scheme open Texas's speedy receivers on the outside.
This is a big game for Sarkisian to show what he can do as a play caller, scheming open the Longhorns' skill weapons to get them out in space against Ohio State's defensive secondary. It is a huge matchup between two of the best head coaches and offensive play callers in college football between Sarkisian and Ohio State bench boss Ryan Day.
Sarkisian could get the ball out in space to some of the more elusive weapons in Texas's receiving corps who can pick up valuable yards after the catch for explosive plays, like Bond and true freshman Ryan Wingo. Junior wide receiver Matthew Golden has also emerged as a primary go-to weapon on the outside and downfield for Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns' offense in the second half of the season.
Wingo has rotated between taking the first and second-team reps at receiver in practice over the past few weeks in bowl practice for the Longhorns. He's caught 28 passes for 450 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season.
Many of Texas's explosive plays on offense in the first half of the season were on misdirections and creative drawn up plays targeted to Wingo.
Wingo already had some extremely impactful games for the Longhorns during the regular season, including over 70 total yards from scrimmage against the Oklahoma Sooners and over 125 yards and one score against Colorado State. But he has yet to have that true breakout spotlight game in the postseason for the Longhorns.
If Bond is on a snap count vs. Ohio State, Wingo could be one of the many talented underclassmen for Texas who makes a big impact on this game in the Cotton Bowl.