Cotton Bowl score, results: Ohio State handles Texas, advances to title game

The Buckeyes hold on for a wild Cotton Bowl victory!

Quinn Ewers is picked off by Caleb Downs, and that will truly wrap this thing up.

Ohio State will advance to the national championship against Notre Dame.

The Longhorns had a 1st-and-goal at the 1 with a chance to tie it up, until a rough four plays

1st down: Jerrick Gibson rushed for no gain

2nd down: Quintrevion Wisner rushed for 7 yard loss

3rd down: Quinn Ewers incomplete pass

4th down: Quinn Ewers sacked by Jack Sawyer for 9-yard loss. Jack Sawyer recovered fumble and returned for 83-yard touchdown

Jack Sawyer strip-sacks Quinn Ewers on 4th-and-goal at the 8-yard line and runs it all the way back for a touchdown! That will basically seal it with 2:13 to play.

Ohio State 28, Texas 14

Quinshon Judkins punches it in from the 1 and the Buckeyes are back in front with 7:02 to play!

OSU 21, Texas 14

Will Howard breaks free for a big gain on 4th-and-2 from the Texas 34-yard line. Bold call pays off, and the ball is inside the 20. Howard might have scored if not for a stumble.

After stopping Texas, the Buckeyes got the ball back and have driven it to near midfield after a clutch 3rd down throw by Will Howard.

Suddenly, Texas feels like it's in control of this game.

The Buckeyes go nowhere on their drive and punt it back.

Longhorns have a shot to take their first lead.

It's Jaydon Blue again! This time for a 26-yard TD catch and run after Quinn Ewers delivered a nice ball under pressure. Impressive drive by the Longhorns to tie it up.

Texas 14, Ohio State 14

The Texas QB managed to complete THIS pass for a 14-yard gain in 3rd-and-10.

The turnover doesn't end up costing Ohio State anything as the defense comes up with a stop.

Buckeyes get it back after a Texas punt.

Will Howard throws an interception while under pressure, as David Gbenda steps in front of it. Big start to the half for the Texas defense.

Ohio State takes the ball to start the 2nd half.

Horns fans were going through it after the big Ohio State TD before the half.

Well that was an exciting finish to the half, with two touchdowns scored in the last 30 seconds.

Ohio State looked dominant early but things have evened out a bit. Should be a fun 2nd half incoming.

Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson streaks 75 yards on a screen pass on the first play of the drive and the Buckeyes get it RIGHT BACK!

Ohio State 14, Texas 7

Quinn Ewers drops a dime to Jaydon Blue in the end zone! And just like that it's a new ballgame with 29 seconds left in the half.

Texas 7, Ohio State 7

Silas Bolden caught a short pass and then broke a tackle and took the ball inside the OSU 20.

34 seconds left in the half as Texas tried to get points on the board.

Texas faced a 4th and 1 right at the 50 and they brought backup QB Arch Manning in to run for the first.

He got it and then some. And the Longhorns fans loved it.

All of a sudden no one can get anything going on offense.

Will Howard is sacked on 3rd down an OSU punts it right back.

Isaiah Bond got open on 3rd down but flat-out dropped it. Drive over. Missed opportunity for the Horns.

Another Ohio State drive gets halted by multiple penalties. The action has really slowed here after the opening couple of drives.

It's Texas ball.

Star defensive end JT Tuimoloau is down on the field with an injury. That could be potentially very big for OSU.

Meanwhile, OSU QB Will Howard is playing with a pretty big bump on his non-throwing hand.

Texas' leading receiver, Matthew Golden, is apparently hurt and was seen walking to the locker room on the ESPN broadcast. Bad news for the Longhorns.

Sonny Styles takes down Quinn Ewers on 3rd down and actually jarred the ball loose, but the Longhorns fell on it. Either way, they punt it away and Ohio State gets it right back.

Dominant start for the OSU pass rush, with 3 sacks already.

Ohio State was marching it again, but a 15-yard unsportsmanlike foul on TreVeyon Henderson was too much to overcome. The Buckeyes will have to punt or try a very long field goal to start the 2nd quarter.

The Longhorns once again had a nice start, moving the ball into OSU territory. But Quinn Ewers took a sack on third down and that forced a punt.

Buckeyes ball.

Quinshon Judkins with a powerful 9-yard TD run and the Buckeyes are on the board first.

Yet another fast start for OSU in the playoffs.

Ohio State 7, Texas 0

Will Howard has made a few nice throws on 3rd downs to keep the drive going and and the Buckeyes are suddenly inside the 10.

Longhorns go for it on 4th and 3 at the OSU 35-yard line and a rushed pass falls incomplete.

Texas could have attempted a roughly 55-yard field goal there but instead comes up empty.

Texas gets its first first down with Matthew Golden's unbelievable one-handed grab on the sideline.

Early candidate for catch of the day?

It's a touchback and Texas starts with the ball at its own 25.

Texas will receive the opening kickoff. A spot in the national title game on the line. Here we go.

Despite a very unusual snowstorm in the Dallas area in the days leading up to tonight's game, both fan bases showed out for the Cotton Bowl.

Good evening folks and welcome to our live tracker for the College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Texas!

We still have about an hour before kickoff, so here's some light reading material while we wait for the action to start.