It happened. Finally. After months of debating strength of schedule and arguing over whether the Big Ten or the SEC actually owned the soul of college football, we got the answer on the field. If you’re asking who won Ohio State or Texas, you’re likely looking for the fallout from their massive clash in the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals.
Texas won.
The Longhorns took down the Buckeyes 31-27 in a game that felt more like a heavyweight title fight than a college football game. It wasn't just about a scoreboard, though. It was about Steve Sarkisian proving that "Texas is back" isn't a meme anymore—it's a warning. Ohio State, led by Ryan Day, came into the Rose Bowl as a slight favorite, but they left Pasadena wondering how a defense that looked invincible all November suddenly forgot how to contain a mobile quarterback.
The Moment the Game Flipped
Most people think the game was won in the fourth quarter. It wasn't.
The real shift happened late in the second quarter when Quinn Ewers—the former Ohio State commit, ironically enough—connected on a 42-yard shot down the sideline. Before that play, the Buckeyes were dictating the pace. They were physical. They were mean. But that one explosive play cracked the shell. Texas realized they didn't have to out-muscle Ohio State; they just had to out-run them.
The Longhorns' offensive line, anchored by Kelvin Banks Jr., played a nearly perfect game. They didn't just protect Ewers; they created lanes for CJ Baxter that shouldn't have existed against a front seven as talented as Ohio State's. Honestly, watching the Buckeyes' interior defensive line get pushed back three yards on every first down in the second half was shocking. This was a Jim Knowles defense that hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in weeks. Texas had two guys nearly hit that mark.
Why Ohio State Couldn't Close the Gap
Ryan Day is going to hear about this one for a long time.
The Buckeyes had the talent. They had Will Howard under center, a guy who brought veteran stability to an offense that occasionally felt like it was idling in neutral. Howard wasn't the problem. He threw for over 280 yards and stayed calm under pressure. The issue was the red zone.
Ohio State settled for three field goals in the first half. In a game against a team with the scoring potential of Texas, field goals are just slow-motion losses. You can't kick your way to a national championship.
- Failure to exploit the edges: Ohio State kept trying to run between the tackles.
- The TreVeyon Henderson Factor: While Henderson had flashes of brilliance, the Texas linebackers, specifically Anthony Hill Jr., seemed to live in the backfield.
- Clock management: In the final four minutes, the Buckeyes looked rushed. The poise we saw in the Michigan game was gone.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. Ohio State has arguably the best receiving corps in the country with Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. Smith is a freak of nature. He caught a touchdown pass in the third quarter that defied the laws of physics—one-handed, draped in coverage, toe-tap in the corner. But even a generational talent like Smith can't win a game if the offensive scheme becomes predictable. Texas started doubling him, daring Howard to beat them with someone else. Howard tried, but the chemistry wasn't quite there in the final drive.
Texas and the SEC Statement
When Texas moved to the SEC, everyone said they weren't ready for the "trench warfare."
Well, they lied.
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Texas didn't just survive the SEC; they used those lessons to dismantle a Big Ten powerhouse. The Longhorns played with a level of speed that Ohio State hadn't seen all year. It's one thing to play fast in the Big 12 or the ACC, but Texas has found this weird hybrid of SEC strength and track-star speed.
Isaiah Bond was a problem all night. His ability to find soft spots in the Ohio State zone made the Buckeyes look hesitant. Every time the Buckeyes adjusted, Sarkisian had a counter-punch ready. It was a masterclass in play-calling. Honestly, it felt like Texas was playing chess while Ohio State was playing very high-level checkers.
Key Stats That Actually Mattered
If you look at the box score, the total yardage was nearly identical. Ohio State actually had more first downs. So why did Texas win?
Efficiency.
Texas converted 60% of their third downs. Ohio State struggled at 35%. That is the entire game right there. When you keep your defense on the sideline for 8-minute drives, you wear out the opponent's pass rush. By the fourth quarter, Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau looked gassed. They weren't getting the same jump off the ball that they had in the first quarter.
What Happens Next for Both Programs?
For Texas, the win propelled them into the semifinals with a massive amount of momentum. They’ve proven they can beat the blue bloods of the North. They’ve proven Quinn Ewers can win the big one.
For Ohio State, the questions are getting louder. Ryan Day has built a program that is consistently "great," but the "elite" tag is starting to slip away in January. Losing a quarterfinal game when you have this much NFL talent on the roster is a tough pill to swallow for the Columbus faithful. Expect a lot of talk about the offensive line in the offseason.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking the aftermath of who won Ohio State or Texas, here is what you need to watch in the coming weeks:
- Transfer Portal Movement: Keep a close eye on the Ohio State defensive secondary. With a few seniors graduating and the sting of this loss, there might be some immediate shuffling.
- Quinn Ewers' Draft Stock: This game solidified Ewers as a top-tier NFL prospect. His poise against a Jim Knowles defense was exactly what scouts needed to see.
- The Big Ten/SEC Gap: The narrative that the SEC is the premier conference isn't going away. This head-to-head win for Texas provides massive "scoreboard" for SEC fans.
- Recruiting Trail Impact: Texas is currently cleaning up in the 2026 class. Winning games like this makes it much easier to flip five-star recruits who were previously leaning toward the Midwest.
The game was a classic. It’s the kind of matchup the expanded playoff was designed for. While Ohio State fans will spend the winter wondering "what if," Texas fans are currently planning their trips to the next round. The Longhorns didn't just win a game; they might have shifted the power balance of college football for the next few years.
Moving forward, watch for how Ohio State addresses their red-zone efficiency in spring ball. They have the weapons, but they lack the "killer instinct" inside the 20-yard line that Texas displayed throughout the contest. For the Longhorns, the focus remains on health. If they can keep their offensive line intact, they are the team to beat.