The Ohio State Buckeyes secured their spot in the College Football National Championship with a 28-14 victory over the Texas Longhorns on Friday night in the Cotton Bowl. After watching the game, it’s safe to say some narratives were proven and some were squashed.
Our biggest takeaways indicate which of those came true on Friday night.
Quinn Ewers Held Texas Back, Will Be a Project in the NFL
Quinn Ewers underwhelmed throughout the 2024 season as Texas’ starting quarterback. Despite the Longhorns reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals for a second consecutive year, Ewers’ performances often lacked polish.
Issues like missed reads, poor pocket awareness leading to sacks, and a lack of velocity on his throws raised questions about his NFL readiness. Friday night followed a familiar pattern, with Ewers failing to lead the offense to any scoring drives until late in the second quarter.
Considering the wealth of talent and top-tier coaching surrounding him, more was expected from the third-year starter.
Prior to the game, it was reported that Ewers intends to enter the NFL Draft after the season. And with that in mind, it’s impossibly hard to overlook that he may not go undrafted in a relatively weak quarterback class, and Ewers currently projects as a Day 2 or Day 3 pick at best.
Ryan Day is One Win Away from Proving the Doubters Wrong
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has faced plenty of criticism during his tenure, particularly for his 1-4 record against Michigan, including a home loss to the Wolverines this season. Entering the playoffs, Day held a disappointing 1-3 record in the College Football Playoff format.
However, with three straight postseason wins, he is now one victory away from silencing the doubters.
The Buckeyes are heavy favorites in the championship game against Notre Dame, with a 9.5-point spread in their favor. Ohio State boasts superior talent at nearly every position and a roster brimming with NFL prospects.
A loss to Notre Dame, however, could reignite scrutiny of Day’s leadership. The pressure is on, and anything short of a title will likely fall squarely on his shoulders
Steve Sarkisian Should Have Made a Quarterback Change
Ewers’ inconsistency throughout the season raises questions about whether Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian should have made a quarterback change during the regular season.
The calls for Arch Manning to replace Ewers grew louder, particularly after a lopsided loss to Georgia earlier in the season.
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Sarkisian did give Manning a brief opportunity in the Georgia game, but poor offensive line play limited Manning’s effectiveness. Still, the decision to stick with Ewers throughout the season, including Friday’s loss, will be scrutinized.
With Ewers declaring for the draft, Texas is expected to hand the reins to Manning next season. Even if Ewers surprisingly returns, the Longhorns appear poised to turn the page and commit to their highly-touted young quarterback.
Texas Made it a Priority to Take Jeremiah Smith Off the Gameplan
Ohio State’s star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith entered the game as one of the nation’s top weapons, amassing 71 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season. Smith had delivered two dominant playoff performances, including a seven-catch, 187-yard, two-touchdown game against Oregon.
Against Texas, however, Smith was held to just one catch for three yards, as the Longhorns’ defense prioritized taking him out of the game. Double and triple teams blanketed Smith throughout the night, forcing Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard to look elsewhere.
Howard adjusted admirably, finding other targets like Carnell Tate, who led the team with seven catches for 87 yards, and Emeka Egbuka, who added five catches for 51 yards. Smith’s quiet night is likely an outlier, and he should play a more prominent role in the championship game against Notre Dame.
Pressure Mounts on Ryan Day and Will Howard
Ohio State has clear advantages over Notre Dame in talent and depth, making the Buckeyes significant favorites. With expectations sky-high, the pressure falls on head coach Ryan Day and quarterback Will Howard to deliver.
Howard doesn’t need to play hero; he simply needs to manage the game, make a few key plays, and avoid turnovers. If he performs competently, Ohio State has the firepower to dominate Notre Dame.
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For Day, this game represents an opportunity to solidify his legacy at Ohio State. Anything less than a championship will invite renewed criticism and questions about his ability to lead the program at the highest level.
Ohio State’s destiny is in its own hands, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Buckeyes.
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