COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 7-2 Big Ten) held a late afternoon practice as they continued preparations for the playoff semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
The Buckeyes practiced for approximately two hours on the indoor field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as they ready to face the No. 5 Texas Longhorns (13-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference).
 
As temperatures plummeted below freezing in the North Texas region heading into Classic week, the Buckeyes were greeted to similar conditions as a winter storm in Central Ohio cancelled the first day of spring classes.
 
The Ohio State offense has been anything but cold in their first quarter starts so far in the playoffs, with five touchdowns scored in the opening period through two games. The Buckeyes have set tempo in impressive fashion in their playoff wins over No. 9 Tennessee and No. 1 Oregon State, scoring touchdowns on each of their first three drives against the Volunteers, and scoring on six of their first seven possessions against the Ducks (four touchdowns, two field goals).
 
Defensively, Ohio State has combined for six three-and-outs in the first half in the playoffs, including four in the first quarter. The Buckeyes have yielded one touchdown in each game before halftime, with both scores coming in the final 30 seconds of the second quarter.
 
"We've always wanted to have fast starts, we all know that," said Ohio State head coach Ryan Ray. "But I do think we've talked about, early in games, you want to set the tone for the game as an individual, but also as a team, as a unit. Both games, we've started off with the ball, and we've gone right down and scored. And so execution fuels emotion, and that certainly has a big part of it. They go together. And we've executed well in those first couple drives, and that's had a big part of it. Defenses got some three and outs early in the game, and we've been able to jump on the last two opponents."
 
TE Gee Scott Jr., who made a 30-yard reception on the opening snap against Oregon, said the goal is to set a tenor at the start.
 
"Yeah, I think the intention behind that was to set the tone early and kind of almost send a message that we're not here to play conservative offense," Gee said. "That we're going to come right after you guys from the first play, and we'll be at you guys all four quarters. And so whenever you start a game like that -- I don't condone street fighting, but if you're in a street fight, he who throws the first punch likely comes out with the win. So our mindset going into that was throw the first punch, and I think we did that to open the game with a gain of 30."
 
The 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is Friday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN Radio. Kickoff is slated for 6:45 p.m.
 
This year's Classic is a part of the ESPN bowl lineup for the 11th straight year. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit are set to the call the action from the booth with Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sidelines. ESPN Radio returns as the Classic's national radio partner for the 11th consecutive year with Marc Kestecher and Kelly Stouffer in the booth and Ian Fitzsimmons and Quint Kessenich on the sidelines to describe all the action from AT&T Stadium.

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