Why is Ohio State playing Texas in the Cotton Bowl for its CFP semifinal location? Here's what to know ahead of Friday's game vs. the Longhorns:

Ohio State fans came out in full force at the Cotton Bowl, occupying nearly half of AT&T Stadium for the CFP semifinal matchup vs Texas:

Ohio State and Texas are both seeking a chance to end national title droughts. The powerhouse programs meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.

Ohio State and Texas have drawn each other as semifinal opponents in the College Football Playoff. This is the fourth matchup between the blue bloods.

AUSTIN, Texas — Long before Quinn Ewers was a key part of Texas' resurgence as a college football power, he bolted north for Ohio State, lured by money and a chance to play in a program already competing for national championships.

Ewers transferred to Austin after spending less than one season in Columbus in 2021. This will mark the fourth meeting between Ohio State and Texas, with the Longhorns leading the all-time series 2-1.

According to Google Maps, it is a three hour and 13 minute drive (200.0 miles) from Texas' campus in Austin ... and a half hour drive from Ohio State's campus in Columbus, Ohio.

After spending a semester deep on the depth chart at Ohio State, the Texas native headed home to front Steve Sarkisian’s rebuilding project. He will face his former team in a CFP semifinal at the

The second semifinal game is fifth seed/No. 3 Texas vs. eighth seed/No. 6 Ohio State, tonight at 7:30pm ET. The winner of that game will face Notre Dame in the championship game, after the Fighting Irish defeated Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night.

Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers did not start his career in Austin. Instead ... Nov. 20, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) practices on the sideline ...

Quinn Ewers’ story cannot be put in proper context without acknowledging he is the first true avatar of how NIL reshaped recruiting in college sports.

Every weatherman in Texas is predicting a major snowstorm on Thursday. In Texas, a "major snowstorm" is six inches of snow. While our friends in more northern climates might look at that as a slight dusting,