Two blue bloods, Texas and Ohio State, will play in the Cotton Bowl on Friday for a spot in the national championship game.

Both teams are 2-0 in the College Football Playoff thus far, albeit via much different paths. The Longhorns defeated No. 12 Clemson 38-24 at home before narrowly beating No. 4 Arizona State in overtime, 39-31. Quarterback Quinn Ewers saved the Longhorns, throwing a game-tying touchdown pass on fourth-and-9 in the extra period.

Watch Ohio State vs. Texas at the Cotton Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Ohio State, however, has been nothing short of dominant in the CFP, with two crushing wins over No. 8 Tennessee (42-17) and No. 1 Oregon (41-21) at home and at the Rose Bowl, respectively.

The Cotton Bowl will be a major reunion for Ewers: The game is not only near his hometown, but it also marks the first time he has faced the Buckeyes since transferring away from the program after his freshman season.

The two powerhouse programs meeting should certainly make for one of the best college football games this season.

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Here’s how to watch the Cotton Bowl, including the start time, TV channel and streaming information:

What channel is the Cotton Bowl on today?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 Cotton Bowl will air live on ESPN, with streaming options available on the ESPN app (with a TV provider login) or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

The game can also be accessed with ESPN+, which requires a subscription.

Cotton Bowl start time today

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Date: Friday, Jan. 10
• Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)

The College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Friday, Jan. 10, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Cotton Bowl predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Jan. 7

• Spread: Ohio State (-6)
• Over/under: 53.5
• Moneyline: Ohio State -225 | Texas +185
• Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 35, Texas 28. The Buckeyes will be playing in front of a pro-Longhorns crowd in Texas, but this is now a team on a mission. Texas has the talent to hang with the Buckeyes. But their defense is able to force former teammate Quinn Ewers into mistakes, and the OSU offensive line protects Will Howard well enough for Buckeyes playmakers to do their thing.
• Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch: Texas 27, Ohio State 21.The Longhorns’ defense is among the best in the nation, but it is UT’s offense, led by former Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers, that shines against the Buckeyes.

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Ohio State football schedule 2024

• Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Akron (W, 52-6)
• Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Western Michigan (W, 56-0)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Marshall (W, 49-14)
• Thursday, Sept. 26: at Michigan State (W, 38-7) *
• Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Iowa (W, 35-7) *
• Saturday, Oct. 12: at No. 3 Oregon (L, 32-31) *
• Saturday, Oct. 19: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Nebraska (W, 21-17) *
• Saturday, Nov. 2: at No. 3 Penn State (W, 20-13) *
• Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Purdue (W, 45-0) *
• Saturday, Nov. 16: at Northwestern (W, 31-7) *
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 5 Indiana (W, 38-15) *
• Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Michigan (L, 13-10) *
• Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 9 Tennessee (W, 42-17) (CFP first round) **
• Wednesday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 1 Oregon (CFP Rose Bowl quarterfinal) (W, 41-21) **
• Friday, Jan. 10: vs. No. 5 Texas (CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal) **
• Record: 12-2, 7-2 Big Ten

* Big Ten game

** Denotes CFP ranking

Texas football schedule 2024

• Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State (W, 52-0)
• Saturday, Sept. 7: at No. 10 Michigan (W, 31-12)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. UTSA (W, 56-7)
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (W, 51-3)
• Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Mississippi State (W, 35-13) *
• Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 18 Oklahoma (W, 34-3) *
• Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 5 Georgia (L, 30-15) *
• Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 25 Vanderbilt (W, 27-24) *
• Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
• Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida (W, 49-17) *
• Saturday, Nov. 16: at Arkansas (W, 20-10) *
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Kentucky (W, 31-14) *
• Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 20 Texas A&M (W, 17-7) *
• Saturday, Dec. 7: vs. No. 5 Georgia (SEC championship) (L, 22-19 OT)
• Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 12 Clemson (CFP first round) (W, 38-24) **
• Wednesday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 4 Arizona State (CFP Peach Bowl quarterfinal) (W, 39-31 OT) **
• Friday, Jan. 10: vs. No. 8 Ohio State (CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal) **
• Record: 13-2, 6-2 SEC

* Denotes SEC game

** Denotes CFP ranking

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