In the 2025 Cotton Bowl, two of CFB’s most illustrious programs square off. Texas takes on the Ohio State with an invite to the National Title of the CFP at stake. Despite losing two games during the regular season, OSU has appeared to be unbeatable in their first two CFP matchups. In what may have been the most spectacular performance of the playoffs, the Buckeyes thrashed undefeated 1-seed Oregon 41-21 and thrashed Vols by 25 points in the first round. In contrast, the Longhorns defeated 12-seeded Clemson in the opening round, then defeated 4-seeded ASU in double overtime to go to the semifinals.

However, there have only ever been three meetings between Texas and Ohio State, and all three included teams who advanced to the national title games in the same year. Texas defeated Ohio State 24–21 in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl in the most recent matchup. Both teams are now desperate to prevail. And the icing on the cake? The knowledgeable and experienced ESPN crew that will call the Cotton Bowl.

Who are the newscasters on ESPN?

Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game between Ryan Day’s OSU and Longhorns. So, it can be expected an unmatched chemistry and experience are brought to the booth by these two. A seasoned sportscaster, Chris Fowler joined ESPN in the early 1980s and rose to prominence as the host of College GameDay for a considerable amount of time. In 1990, the CU alumnus started hosting the College GameDay program. As of now, he is an exceptional storyteller on air because of his composed, storytelling style and meticulous attention to detail.

In contrast, a mainstay of CFB reporting since joining ESPN’s GameDay in 1996, Kirk Herbstreit has been Fowler’s longtime companion. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the game, which he developed during his time as a QB at OSU, Herbstreit has a lively personality that infuses each broadcast with vitality and nuance. Herbstreit has received five Sports Emmy Awards in a variety of categories for his work on television.

You may now unwind on your couch, since these two will brighten your day with their shared experiences. But hold on, if you want to see the game, you will need to wait a few more hours. Therefore, save your time and read the opinions of analysts over the Cotton Bowl in the interim.

Analysts prediction: Cotton Bowl

Ohio State is heavily favored by analysts, who point to their previous dominance over Oregon and Tennessee in the CFB Playoff, where they won by significant margins, twenty-five and twenty points, respectively. According to Joel Klatt of FOX Sports, Ohio State is currently playing some of the finest football in the nation, which helps explain why they are the favorites. And what about the current odds?

With a money-line of -220 for Ohio State and +190 for Texas, Ohio State is projected to win by 5.5 points. 53.5 is the over/under for the overall number of points. However, as per analysts, despite having a great season, Texas had to overcome a more difficult route to go to the Cotton Bowl, defeating Arizona State by a slim margin in double overtime. Their capacity to contend with Ohio State’s potent attack has been called into question as a result.

But prediction is merely a sneak peek at the Cotton Bowl, so don’t miss the action. Get your snack ready now. It will be an amazing game.