ARLINGTON, Texas – The divisional round of the 2024-25 National Football League playoffs is slated to feature 43 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic alumni across the active rosters of the eight participating teams.
 
The Houston Texans with 10 lead the way with the most Cotton Bowl Classic alums. Leading the franchise on the sidelines is another Classic alum and former Alabama standout DeMeco Ryans. The Texans' second-year head coach earned the Felix R. McKnight Trophy as the Defensive Most Valuable Player in the 70th Classic in 2006 and will be inducted into the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame in May.
 
The Detroit Lions feature four Cotton Bowl Classic alums plus two among their coaches. Head coach Dan Campbell played for Texas A&M in the 62nd Classic in 1998 and assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett threw for 114 yards and ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State's 82nd Classic win in 2017.
 
Alabama paces the list of Classic alums with 11 followed by Penn State and Ohio State with five each. Each of the eight teams playing in the NFL divisional round boasts at least one Classic alum on its active roster.
 
The AFC and NFC Championship games are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 26. Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans is set for Sunday, Feb. 9 on FOX.
 
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GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2024-25 NFL PLAYOFFS DIVISIONAL ROUND
 
Baltimore Ravens (7)
Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama*  
Darrian Dalcourt, Alabama**  
Malik Harrison, Ohio State  
Derrick Henry, Alabama 
Marlon Humphrey, Alabama  
Adisa Isaac, Penn State 
Trayvon Mullen, Clemson* 
Odafe Oweh, Penn State  
Jordan Stout, Penn State 
Andrew Vorhees, Southern California  
 
Buffalo Bills (4)
David Edwards, Wisconsin 
Kaiir Elam, Florida  
Richard Gouraige, Florida** 
KJ Hamler, Penn State** 
Daequan Hardy, Penn State** *** 
Von Miller, Texas A&M 
Baylon Spector, Clemson*  
Dorian Williams, Tulane 
 
Detroit Lions (4)
Terrion Arnold, Alabama 
Brian Branch, Alabama 
Kingsley Eguakun, Florida** 
Jamarco Jones, Ohio State**  
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri* 
Jameson Williams, Alabama  
Brock Wright, Notre Dame 
Dan Campbell, Texas A&M (Head Coach)
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Assistant Quarterbacks Coach)
 
Houston Texans (10)
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama  
Calen Bullock, Southern California  
Solomon Byrd, Southern California** 
Christian Harris, Alabama
Kurt Hinish, Notre Dame
John Metchie III, Alabama^  
Dare Ogunbowale, Wisconsin 
Jeff Okudah, Ohio State  
Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame   
Dameon Pierce, Florida 
Juice Scruggs, Penn State  
Henry To'oTo'o, Alabama
DeMeco Ryans, Alabama (Head Coach)
 
Kansas City Chiefs (3)
Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan***
Bryan Cook, Cincinnati  
Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma  
Justyn Ross, Clemson** 
Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame  
Marlon Tuipulotu, Southern California*  
 
Los Angeles Rams (2) 
Justin Dedich, Southern California
Cody Schrader, Missouri
Drake Stoops, Oklahoma** 
 
Philadelphia Eagles (5) 
Zack Baun, Wisconsin 
Parris Campbell, Ohio State
Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State**
Jahan Dotson, Penn State 
Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis 
Bryce Huff, Memphis 
Byron Young, Alabama* 
 
Washington Commanders (8)
Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin***
Michael Deiter, Wisconsin
Clelin Ferrell, Clemson 
Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
Terry McLaurin, Ohio State 
Daron Payne, Alabama
Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama 
Tress Way, Oklahoma 
 
*Reserve/Injured list
**Practice squad
***Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic
^Was injured and did not play in the Cotton Bowl Classic