For the first time in the 2024 season, Texas football (13-2, 7-1 SEC) is an underdog going into a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl next week. Texas and Ohio State are two of the biggest programs in college football, and they will square off against each other amid a CFP semis full of blue bloods.
Texas football faces a huge challenge as a six-point underdog vs. Ohio State in the CFP semifinals
Ohio State is currently the odds-on favorite to not only beat the Longhorns in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, but also to win the entire College Football Playoff for the National Championship game.
This matchup in the CFP semifinals between Texas and Ohio State pits two of the best offensive head coach play callers in college football, between Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian for the Longhorns.
Both defenses will be challenged constantly by these great offensive play callers and all the talent and skill weapons that both teams present for their offenses.
Here are three problematic Ohio State players that the Longhorns must be prepared for in the CFP semis at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, TX, on Jan. 10.
Emeka Egbuka, WR
Ohio State's top receiver pairing of senior Emeka Egbuka and true freshman stud Jeremiah Smith is one of the best wideout duos in college football. Egbuka and Smith are a tremendous receiver duo who can exploit just about every opposing defense with their ability to find seams in the secondary and get downfield for explosive plays.
Egbuka is Ohio State's standout slot receiver who challenges opposing safeties over the top in the deep passing game and gets the ball out in space to make defenders miss in the open field. Ohio State makes it a priority to get the ball in Egbuka's hands out in space in most games multiple times.
He leads Ohio State in short and screen targets and yards after the catch from behind the line of scrimmage this season (per PFF).
If Ohio State makes it to the CFP National Championship Game, Egbuka has a chance to be the Buckeyes' all-time leading receiver in yards. He's already within striking distance of his second career 1,000-receiving yard season and he's reached his second season with double-digit receiving touchdowns this year and in 2022.