3 Texas players who look scary for Cotton Bowl showdown against Ohio State

The Texas Longhorns are on the verge of the national title game. Not since Vince Young and Mack Brown has Texas had a season this successful. But there's still a showdown with Ohio State standing between Texas and the CFP title game. The good news is a series of Longhorns who could be potential difference makers.

Texas is 13-2 this season and has lost only to Georgia, both in the regular season and the SEC championship game. But the Longhorns have bested Clemson and Arizona State in the CFP to earn their semifinal spot against Ohio State. While the Buckeyes are the title favorites, here are three Longhorns who could shift the narrative.

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Three Texas players who should concern Ohio State in CFP semifinal

Texas defensive end Colin Simmons could be an absolute menace against Ohio State. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

#3 Colin Simmons, DE

Simmons is one of the most talked-about players in college football and for good reason. The freshman defensive end has been all he was expected to be and more. Simmons has 44 tackles, which includes 14 tackles for loss and nine QB sacks. He has nine more QB hurries and three fumbles forced.

Simmons can single-handedly devastate opponents. Eight of his nine sacks came against power four opponents, so he didn't quite feast on light competition. In five of Texas's last six games, Simmons has at least a shared tackle for loss. He could disrupt the potent Ohio State offense.

#2 Matthew Golden, WR

Golden is a multi-faceted star. He's both Texas's top receiver and its outstanding kick returner. Golden's 56 catches are second on the team, but his 936 yards and nine touchdowns lead the squad. He also averaged over 20 yards per kickoff return on the season.

Golden comes in red-hot, after seven catches for 149 yards against Arizona State. In Texas' last three games, he has 17 receptions for 360 yards. He could deliver some back-breaking plays against the Buckeyes and could also help other receivers break free due to the likeliy attention of the OSU secondary.

#1 Quinn Ewers, QB

Ewers is the most important cog in the Longhorn offense. While Arch Manning is a more than capable backup, Ewers has made big plays when Texas had to make them - like in the double overtime win over Arizona State. After a subpar offensive day, Texas smoked the Sun Devils on two overtime possessions to win the game.

Ewers has passed for 3,189 yards and 29 touchdowns. In Texas' two losses, he threw three touchdowns and three interceptions. In the rest of the season, that ratio is 26 to 8. Ewers' 10.7 yards per attempt against Arizona State suggests a quarterback playing his best football.

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What do you think of Texas's standout stars? Drop your prediction on whether they can take down Ohio State below in our comments section: