3 players who will make or break Ryan Day's natty hopes in Cotton Bowl

Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes are two wins away from a national championship. The first step is beating the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.

After two convincing wins over Tennessee and Oregon, the Buckeyes are considered the favorite to make it to the College Football Playoff Championship Bowl.

It’s a big change, considering just a few weeks ago, there was a sentiment that Day wouldn’t be brought back for the 2025 season after losing at home to Michigan. Here are three players who could make the national championship happen for Day and the Buckeyes.

3 players who will determine Ryan Day’s fate in the Cotton Bowl

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has 290 receiving yards in two postseason games. - Source: Imagn

#3. JT Tuimoloau, Defensive End

Ohio State’s main strength during this playoff run has been their ability to get to the quarterback. Tuimoloau leads the team with four sacks in the postseason and 10 overall.

Tuimoloau is adept at creating problems in the opposition’s backfield. He led the team with 17 tackles for loss. The Longhorns have a top-tier offensive line and will have both star tackles available. It will be up to the Edgewood, Washington native and fellow defensive end Jack Sawyer to stop them.

#2. Will Howard, Quarterback

Ryan Day cherry-picked Will Howard to run his offense for the 2024 season. After Day didn’t commit to incumbent Kyle McCord following last season’s loss at Michigan, McCord left for Syracuse, where he led the nation in passing, and Day got Howard to commit.

The former Kansas State quarterback has been solid, with 3,490 yards, 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, the game against Texas is also a personal test for him.

Howard could never beat the Longhorns while with the Wildcats (0-3 record as a starter quarterback). The senior was also brought in large part to break the three-game losing streak against Michigan, which the Buckeyes didn’t do.

If Ohio State falters again, his stay in Columbus will be labeled a disappointment.

#1. Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver

Who else could it be? The freshman wide receiver has set the college football world on fire with 290 yards and four touchdowns in the postseason. Jeremiah Smith has been as explosive as any other player in college football.

The freshman will face his toughest test of the CFP against a Texas defense that excels in coverage. Jahdae Barron won the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in December.

Ohio State has enough weapons besides the wide receiver from Miami Gardens, but he gives Ryan Day’s offense an explosiveness no other team in the CFP has.