Texas projected starting lineup and depth chart for Cotton Bowl Classic | 2024-25 College football season

All eyes will be on Arlington, Texas, as No. 8 Ohio State squares off against No. 5 Texas in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Scheduled for Friday, January 10, 2025, at 7:30 PM ET, the game will air on ESPN from the AT&T Stadium. Ohio State is favored by 5.5 points, with an over/under of 53.5.

The Longhorns lost the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs but started their College Football Playoff journey with a win over the Clemson Tigers in the first round followed by a double overtime win over the Arizona State Sun Devils to reach here.

Let's take a Texas projected starting lineup and depth chart for the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Texas projected starting lineup and depth chart for Cotton Bowl Classic

Offensive Positions

WR-X (Wide Receiver X):

Starter: Isaiah Bond

• 2nd: Ryan Wingo
• 3rd: Parker Livingstone

WR-Z (Wide Receiver Z):

Starter: Matthew Golden

• 2nd: Silas Bolden
• 3rd: Aaron Butler

WR-H (Wide Receiver H):

Starter: DeAndre Moore Jr.

• 2nd: Johntay Cook II (Out)
• 3rd: Ryan Niblett

LT (Left Tackle):

Starter: Kelvin Banks Jr. (Out)

• 2nd: Trevor Goosby
• 3rd: Malik Agbo

LG (Left Guard):

Starter: Hayden Conner

• 2nd: Neto Umeozulu
• 3rd: Jaydon Chatman

C (Center):

Starter: Jake Majors

• 2nd: Hayden Conner
• 3rd: Connor Robertson

RG (Right Guard):

Starter: DJ Campbell

• 2nd: Cole Hutson
• 3rd: Nate Kibble

RT (Right Tackle):

Starter: Cameron Williams (Doubtful)

• 2nd: Brandon Baker
• 3rd: Andre Cojoe

TE (Tight End):

Starter: Gunnar Helm

• 2nd: Juan Davis
• 3rd: Amari Niblack

QB (Quarterback):

Starter: Quinn Ewers

• 2nd: Arch Manning
• 3rd: Trey Owens

RB (Running Back):

Starter: Quintrevion Wisner

• 2nd: Jaydon Blue
• 3rd: Jerrick Gibson
• 4th: Ryan Niblett
• Inactive: CJ Baxter (OFS)
• Inactive: Velton Gardner (OFS)
• Inactive: Christian Clark (OFS)

Defensive Positions

JACK (Edge/Linebacker):

Starter: Barryn Sorrell

• 2nd: Ethan Burke

LDT (Left Defensive Tackle):

Starter: Alfred Collins

• 2nd: Jermayne Lole

NT (Nose Tackle):

Starter: Bill Norton

• 2nd: Aaron Bryant
• 3rd: Sydir Mitchell

RDT (Right Defensive Tackle):

Starter: Vernon Broughton

• 2nd: Tiaoalii Savea (Out)
• 3rd: Alex January

EDGE (Defensive End):

Starter: Trey Moore

• 2nd: Colin Simmons
• 3rd: Justice Finkley

MLB (Middle Linebacker):

Starter: Anthony Hill Jr.

• 2nd: Liona Lefau

WLB (Weakside Linebacker):

Starter: David Gbenda

• 2nd: Morice Blackwell Jr.
• 3rd: Ty'Anthony Smith

FCB (Field Cornerback):

Starter: Jahdae Barron

• 2nd: Gavin Holmes
• 3rd: Jay'Vion Cole
• 4th: Wardell Mack

FS (Free Safety):

Starter: Michael Taaffe

• 2nd: Xavier Filsaime

BS (Boundary Safety):

Starter: Andrew Mukuba

• 2nd: Jelani McDonald
• 3rd: Jordon Johnson-Rubell

BCB (Boundary Cornerback):

Starter: Malik Muhammad

• 2nd: Kobe Black
• 3rd: Warren Roberson

STAR (Nickelback):

Starter: Jaylon Guilbeau

Special Teams

PT (Punter):

Starter: Michael Kern

• 2nd: Ian Ratliff

PK (Placekicker):

Starter: Bert Auburn

• 2nd: Will Stone

KO (Kickoff Specialist):

Starter: Will Stone

• 2nd: Bert Auburn

LS (Long Snapper):

Starter: Lance St. Louis

• 2nd: Tate Haver

H (Holder):

Starter: Michael Kern

• 2nd: Ian Ratliff

PR (Punt Returner):

Starter: Silas Bolden

• 2nd: Matthew Golden

KR (Kick Returner):

Starter: Matthew Golden

• 2nd: Silas Bolden
• 3rd: DeAndre Moore Jr.

Injured/Inactives

• Tiaoalii Savea (Defensive Line): Out
• Kelvin Banks (Offensive Line): Out
• Cameron Williams (Offensive Line): Doubtful
• Johntay Cook (Wide Receiver): Out
• CJ Baxter (RB): Out for Season (OFS)
• Velton Gardner (RB): Out for Season (OFS)
• Derek Williams (Defensive Back): Out for Season (OFS)
• Christian Clark (RB): Out for Season (OFS)