Ohio State vs. Texas CFP score prediction: Cotton Bowl preview feat. Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning, Will Howard, and more

The second game of the College Football Playoff semifinal could be a doozy. Ohio State is on a roll and presently looks like the best team in the nation after smashing Tennessee and Oregon, who was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country at the time. Meanwhile, Texas was flat during its victory over Clemson, then needed late-game heroics to beat Arizona State in overtime.

Yet this game will be on the Longhorns’ home turf, albeit some 200 miles from campus. The winner of this contest will surely be the favorite moving into the title game on January 20.

It's been an up-and-down season for both Ohio State and Texas.

Ohio State Buckeyes preview going into the Cotton Bowl

The Buckeyes started the season a bit slow, lost to Oregon on the road by a point, looked sluggish against Nebraska then lost a horrendous game to arch-rival Michigan in Columbus.

Immediately there were calls to fire head coach Ryan Day, who has not beaten the Wolverines the past four years. Yet rather than hide in a shell, Day has gotten the Buckeyes to play at the level everyone expected this season. The defense has been dominant, especially the defensive line.

Ryan Day - Source: Imagn

The offense is hitting on all cylinders, and freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith cannot be covered.

Texas Longhorns preview going into the Cotton Bowl

Texas was the best team in the nation -- during the first half of the season. Yet a bad loss to Georgia in October was followed up with close victories over Vanderbilt and Arkansas, both lesser squads, then another loss to the Bulldogs in the SEC title game.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers was inconsistent and then injured. He was briefly replaced by Arch Manning in the middle of the season. The offensive line, which is supposed to be a strength, struggled with injuries and poor play. Texas has done enough to win during its two games in the College Football Playoff despite being significantly more talented than their opponents.

Ohio State vs. Texas College Football Playoff preview

The Longhorns offensive line must step up its game and at the very least slow down the Buckeyes front four to have any chance in this contest.

"Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams has been unstoppable and dare I say improved his NFL draft stock more than any other player in the College Football Playoff."

Pass rushers JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer have benefited from the double-team blocks and penetration Williams gets on almost every snap, yet both have played well on their own, constantly penetrating the line of scrimmage and disrupting the opponent’s game plan.

Denzel Burke - Source: Imagn

Texas has a pair of potential first-round picks at both tackle spots, Kelvin Banks Jr. on the left side and Cameron Williams on the right side. Both have struggled with injury, Williams missed the Peach Bowl against Arizona State with a knee injury, and he suffered from poor play at times. Banks was knocked around by inferior talent against the Sun Devils.

The interior of the Longhorns offensive line has also been inconsistent despite lining up several next-level prospects.

If the Longhorns offensive line cannot protect Quinn Ewers, it could be a long day for Texas. Ewers is a gunslinger with a big arm, but he takes a while to process the action and is slow in his decision-making.

Quinn Ewers - Source: Imagn

This could lead to ruin, as while the Longhorns have some talented pass catchers, the Buckeyes secondary has been on the money the past two weeks.

Cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun played poorly for most of the season, struggling from mental lapses and a lot of penalties, but they have looked good the past two weeks. Jordan Hancock and safety Lathan Ransom, both Day 3 prospects, have also played well.

NCAA Football: Rose Bowl Media Day-Ohio State - Source: Imagn

The Longhorns defense does not get the credit it is due and has a lot of talent on all three levels. Barryn Sorrell, Alfred Collins, Ethan Burke, Vernon Broughton, and Bill Norton are a formidable front line, while sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is a terror on the second level.

On paper, they should be better than the revamped Ohio State offensive line. I say should because that’s what should’ve happened the past two weeks, yet since the Michigan loss, the Ohio State line has sunk its feet into the ground and allowed little penetration.

Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, a personal favorite, and safety Andrew Mukuba, a transfer from Clemson, will have their hands full.

Ohio State vs. Texas CFP score prediction

Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard is playing his best football to date, and targets Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Emeka Egbuka are making his life easy.

Steve Sarkisian will have to be very creative to slow down the Ohio State defense, and even if Texas can slow down the Buckeyes air attack, the duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins will punish them on the ground.

The momentum of these teams is going in different directions, and Texas will need to pull a rabbit out of its hat to win.

FINAL: OHIO STATE 38 TEXAS 21