Forward of Texas’ showdown towards eighth-seeded Ohio State within the School Soccer Playoff semifinal on the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian provided excessive reward for the Buckeyes.
According to ESPN’s Dave Wilson, Sarkisian mentioned, “That is one of the best group in school soccer, and we’ll need to ensure that we put our greatest ahead to offer ourselves an opportunity to win the sport.”
After Ohio State dismantled ninth-seeded Tennessee, 42-17, and No. 1 seed Oregon, 41-21, to achieve the CFP semifinal, it’s laborious to argue with Sarkisian.
Listed here are 5 causes Sarkisian was proper together with his reward for the Buckeyes:
WR Jeremiah Smith’s sensational freshman season
With 103 yards and two TDs towards Tennessee and 187 yards and a pair of TDs vs. Oregon, Smith has 1,224 receiving yards and 15 TDs (one dashing) this season. His 14 receiving TDs are tied for third within the nation, per TeamRankings.
Smith has posted a minimum of 80 receiving yards 9 occasions, so slowing him down goes to be tough for Texas regardless of its third-best protection (14.5 PPG) within the nation.
The Buckeyes’ FBS-leading protection
Permitting solely 12.1 PPG, Ohio State has the nation’s finest protection, per TeamRankings. For the reason that Buckeyes’ first lack of the season to Oregon on Oct. 12, Ohio State has not allowed greater than 21 factors.
Ohio State held the No. 1 Geese scoreless for practically the complete first half in its dominant Rose Bowl efficiency.
Texas goes to want huge performances from Matthew Golden (936 yards, 9 TDs), Gunnar Helm (744 yards, seven TDs) and Isaiah Bond (532 yards, 5 TDs) down the sector if the Longhorns are going to hold with the Buckeyes.
QB Will Howard’s effectivity
Howard has accomplished a minimum of 80% of his passes in seven video games this season. Within the two CFP video games up to now, Howard is 41-of-55 for 630 yards with 5 TDs and just one interception.
Howard’s QBR (87.2) is second in the country. Texas should discover a method to generate stress on Howard to maintain him from getting comfy within the pocket.
If that doesn’t occur, count on a lot of the identical from the senior QB.
Emeka Egbuka provides Ohio State one other weapon at WR
Whereas Smith has garnered loads of consideration, Egbuka has been phenomenal as nicely. Egbuka is second on the group with 896 receiving yards and 10 TDs.
Though Egbuka has solely recorded 100 receiving yards as soon as this season, he has been a constant goal for Howard. Egbuka has 5 or extra receptions in eight of the Buckeyes’ video games.
Even when Texas is one way or the other capable of neutralize Smith, Egbuka provides Howard one other risk down the sector that may trigger issues for opposing defenses.
Constant dashing assault supplies stability for Ohio State’s offense
The passing recreation has been a significant space of success for Ohio State, particularly within the two CFP video games. Nevertheless, the balanced run recreation between TreVeyon Henderson (925 yards, 10 TDs) and Quinshon Judkins (924 yards, 10 TDs) makes the Buckeyes next-to-unstoppable when they’re clicking.
Henderson has 4 TDs within the two playoff video games, whereas Judkins had a pair towards Tennessee.
Texas has to discover a method to make Ohio State extra one-dimensional if it’ll gradual the Buckeyes down.
The Buckeyes (-105) are the favorites to win the CFP Nationwide Championship, per FanDuel. Sarkisian’s feedback present that he and the Longhorns are nicely conscious of the problem that awaits them within the Cotton Bowl.
