The 2024 CFP semifinal fever is in the air! In this case, it’s the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State. The debate about whether Steve Sarkisian will play Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning as QB1 persists. Ewers’ 322 yards and three passing TDs in the Peach Bowl against Arizona State make him a key player in the upcoming semifinals. But it’s not the QBs that we should be relying on for the outcome of the game, as per a football analyst. 

RJ Young believes that Steve Sarkisian has a weapon that could help him snag a win in the Cotton Bowl. In his new YouTube episode on The Number One College Football Show on January 8, he revealed the dark horse, saying, “The reason that Texas would win this football game is Quintrevion Wisner.” He added, “Quintrevion Wisner has been bucking people. Texas has been damn near unstoppable. He’s got over a thousand yards rushing and five touchdowns and he was going into this year as third or fourth best tailback.”

Yes, we’re talking about Texas’ dynamic sophomore RB who set the season’s 1,000-yard rushing milestone against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Still, the last game may not have been a statement game for Quintrevion Wisner, as he only rushed for 45 yards on 18 carries. But it boosted his season production to 1,018 yards and five scores on 209 carries. He now joins Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Brooks as one of the elite RBs to achieve this feat under Steve Sarkisian. 

Quintrevion Wisner played on special teams for Texas in his freshman season. But after CJ Baxter’s offseason injury and Jaydon Blue’s fumbling concerns, he earned the starting role at RB, and boy, what a lucrative choice Sark made! Spectators witnessed his potential in the Longhorns’ 17-7 win against Texas A&M. He was a big part of the win with his 186 yards, which became the program’s fourth-most yards in a single game against the Aggies. Even the HC views him as the potential “toughest guy” on their team. But can he repeat the same feat in the Cotton Bowl?

Ohio State vs. Texas: Who will survive?

There is a requirement that RJ Young has for Quintrevion Wisner for the Cotton Bowl victory. He stated, “I think Quintrevion Wisner goes over 100 yards, you’re talking about Texas winning this football game.” Can he? Ohio State is a fairly tougher opponent than ASU. Besides, among the remaining playoff HCs, Ryan Day has the biggest pressure to win this season’s national championship. 

The last time the two teams met was in 2009, when Texas defeated OSU 24-21. But this season has been favorable for the Buckeyes. They’re entering the game as a 7-point favorite after knocking out Oregon with their dominant 41-21 victory in the Rose Bowl. They also have explosive players in QB Will Howard and WR Jeremiah Smith who’ll be key threats for the Longhorns. 

Who do you think has the better edge at the semifinal showdown inside AT&T Stadium? Can Quintrevion Wisner live up to the hype he’s receiving over Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning?