A plow waits at a stop light. Texas could be hit with up to six inches of snow before the Cotton Bowl is played in Arlington on Friday.

Winter storm targets North Texas; Cotton Bowl officials on alert

A winter storm barreling down on North Texas could cause havoc days before the Cotton Bowl on Friday.

The College Football Playoff semifinal game between Texas and Ohio State has officials in Arlington, Texas, concerned about traffic and safety because of the amount of snowfall — between four and six inches — projected to land in the area. Weather Channel said the annual average snowfall for Arlington, Texas, is just over 1.5 inches meaning about four times the annual amount could be on the ground to potentially clog roadways and challenge the energy grid.

A similar timeline played out in 2011 when the Super Bowl was held at AT&T Stadium.

This week, meteorologists are calling for up to six inches of total accumulation beginning Wednesday night in Dallas-Fort Worth and a winter storm watch has been issued starting Thursday at midnight Central through 6 p.m. Friday. The Cotton Bowl is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff local time.

“We are routinely monitoring weather reports and we are in close contact with AT&T Stadium and local officials,” a Cotton Bowl official said in a statement. “We always have plans for inclement weather. Should conditions warrant it, we will communicate to everyone attending and connected with this year’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.”

Areas from Little Rock, Ark., to Memphis, Tenn., and further south of Arlington all are on high alert with the impact of the storm shifting from possible freezing rain to snow.

Once fans reach the stadium, the environment in the indoor venue offers temperature-controlled comfort for the playoff game.

Friday’s forecast calls for highs near 34 degrees near the stadium.

Kevin Oden, the director of emergency management and crisis response in Dallas, said the “priority is ensuring safe travel for the teams and their fans visiting Dallas in the Metroplex.”

Parts of North Texas measured four inches of snowfall on game week during the Super Bowl in 2011. Since that event was held, the Dallas Cowboys installed ice guards designed to block melting snow and ice from falling on the walkways and parking areas below.

The single-event record for snowfall in Dallas was 12.45 inches on Feb. 11-12, 2010.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

CFP denies request to flip dates of semifinal games

The College Football Playoff semifinal games will be played as scheduled, despite a request for an alteration.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Thursday that he wanted the CFP committee to flip the dates of the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl.

His request came after the Sugar Bowl, in which Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10, was delayed one day after the truck attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Notre Dame moves on to meet Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. Ohio State and Texas will play in the Cotton Bowl the following day for a berth in the national championship.

Per ESPN, Sankey was worried the winner of the Sugar Bowl could be at a disadvantage having two fewer days of rest and preparation time than Penn State, which played on New Year’s Eve.

But CFP executive director Rick Clark told ESPN on Friday the schedule will not change.

“We’re not going to flip the games,” Clark said. “The concession we made with the athletic directors was to start the Sugar Bowl earlier — an 18-hour or so delay. We slipped the game 18 hours to ensure we could provide safety and security for teams, coaches, staffs, fans and others involved. (New Orleans) and Sugar Bowl officials were amazing.”

Sankey told Finebaum that the “incredible horrible tragedy” in New Orleans warranted consideration of a change of dates.

“Sometimes just like within a game you have to adapt you have to adjust,” Sankey said.

Clark said such a change would have a wide-ranging impact.

“Logistics are very complicated, disruptive to the other teams involved that have schedules in place, especially Texas and Ohio State,” he said. “Fans have made arrangements already and this creates issues for them. There’s more, but these are some of the major points.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (12) almost gets sacked by Missouri Tigers defensive back Daylan Carnell (13) before throwing the ball away in the second quarter during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium.

No. 9 Missouri rallies to beat No. 7 Ohio State in Cotton Bowl

The No. 9 Missouri Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 7 Ohio State 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

The Buckeyes (11-2) played most of the game with third-string quarterback freshman Lincoln Kienholz and managed only a first-period field goal.

Missouri took a 7-3 lead on a 7-yard run by Cody Schrader five seconds into the fourth quarter to complete a 95-yard drive. The big play was a 50-yard pass from Brady Cook to Marquis Johnson to the Ohio State 15. An 8-yard run by Cook on the last play of the third quarter set up the score.

The Tigers (11-2) then used 13 plays to go 91 yards, capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden with 5:12 to play.

Cook was 11 for 18 passing for 128 yards, and Schrader ran for 128 yards on 29 carries.

The Buckeyes were without starting quarterback Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse, and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who opted not to play and is expected to be a high first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Harrison finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting balloting earlier this month. Also, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg was injured and did not play.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Devin Brown made his first career start for the Buckeyes but he injured an ankle late in the first quarter and was replaced by Kienholz.

Kienholz was 6 for 17 for 86 yards. Brown was 4 for 6 for 20 yards and was sacked three times.

It was a defensive struggle in the first half. The only points came on a 44-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding with 3:12 left in the first quarter.

Through two quarters, Ohio State had 112 yards (28 passing, 84 running) while Missouri had 76 (20 passing, 56 running). Each team had five first downs and six punts.

Fielding had a 48-yard field goal try in the third quarter hit the left upright and fall back to the field, and the momentum shifted to the Tigers.

–Field Level Media

Michigan defensive back Will Johnson defends Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. sits out Cotton Bowl

Ohio State star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. elected to sit out Friday night’s Cotton Bowl against Missouri in Arlington, Texas.

Harrison, who finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, was wearing his jersey top prior to the game but not dressed in uniform pants or wearing pads.

Harrison has yet to announce his future plans. He is projected to be one of the first players selected if he declares for the 2024 NFL Draft. His other option is returning to Ohio State.

The two-time first-team All-American caught 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.

In three seasons with the Buckeyes, Harrison has 155 catches for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Harrison’s father, Marvin, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who was an eight-time Pro Bowl pick during 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts from 1996-2008.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Devin Brown (33) throws during warm-ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium.

Missouri motivated for Cotton Bowl test against Ohio State

Even though Ohio State is ranked higher and has more wins than No. 9 Missouri, the seventh-ranked Buckeyes also have uncertainty entering Friday’s Cotton Bowl matchup in Arlington, Texas.

The Buckeyes (11-1) were still reeling from a third straight loss to bitter rival Michigan, 30-24, on Nov. 25, when two days later starting quarterback Kyle McCord announced he would enter the transfer portal. He committed to Syracuse on Dec. 17.

Missouri hopes to take advantage of Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback Devin Brown’s inexperience. While McCord completed 229 of 348 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, Brown was hampered by an ankle injury and threw just 22 passes, completing 12 for 197 yards, two TDs and one pick.

“He hasn’t played a lot of games, so he hasn’t seen a lot of different looks, a lot of different disguise coverages,” Missouri defensive lineman Jayden Jernigan said of Brown. “So, it may be more difficult for him just because he hasn’t had the experience.”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day has confidence in Brown.

“The first thing you notice is his command of the huddle, his command of the offense,” Day said. “He’s done a nice job of that. He has a charisma about him that I think the guys appreciate.”

McCord joined 13 other Buckeyes in the portal, including backup running back Chip Trayanum and receiver Julian Fleming.

Adding to the upheaval, receiver Marvin Harrison Jr, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting earlier this month and is projected to be a high first-round pick, is undecided if he will play. The same goes for starting running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and tight end Cade Stover.

However, all of them were in Texas for the pre-bowl practices.

Day said that he’s focused on the game and not questions surrounding the availability of players.

“I’ve allowed those guys to kind of do their own thing; I don’t want to put their stuff out there,” he said. “But we’ve got a good group playing in the game. We do.”

Missouri (10-2) expects a full roster for the game.

“We didn’t have any opt-outs,” Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “Our brotherhood is wanting to play this one final game, this one opportunity together.”

Receiver Theo Wease said the Tigers are motivated to beat the Buckeyes.

“It would mean everything, just being an 11-win season, that’s a great season,” he said. “They’re a very respected opponent around the country. It’s going to be a good test.

“Our team is still hungry. I definitely think it’s a group of guys that aren’t satisfied at all.”

Brady Cook threw for 3,189 yards and 20 touchdowns against six interceptions and Cody Schrader rushed for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. Missouri averages 34.1 points per game and allows 22.3 points.

Even though the Buckeyes are disappointed in not making the College Football Playoff for a second straight season, there is still plenty at stake for the proud Big Ten program.

“We want to finish this season and have something to show for it,” Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke said. “Our job is to go out, have fun, compete and win the game.”

–Field Level Media

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. makes a catch against Michigan defensive backs Quinten Johnson and Mike Sainristil during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

Marvin Harrison Jr.: NFL draft decision not yet made

Marvin Harrison Jr., a Heisman Trophy finalist and almost-certain top five draft pick, told reporters Thursday that he hasn’t decided whether he’ll enter the 2024 NFL Draft or return to Ohio State for his final season.

Harrison, after all, has unfinished business in Columbus.

“I want to beat the team up north and win a Big Ten Championship,” the star wide receiver said.

After 15 wins in 16 annual games between 2004 and 2019, the Buckeyes have lost three straight to Michigan. The Wolverines beat the previously undefeated Buckeyes in the final week of the regular season, with Michigan headed to the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed and Ohio State to the Cotton Bowl against Missouri.

Harrison’s comments came as rumors swirl that he and running back TreVeyon Henderson could receive big name, image and likeness compensation to return in 2024.

He apparently isn’t in a hurry to decide which path to take.

“There will be a time and place for that,” he said.

For now, he’s still remembering the lost opportunity to beat Michigan after the 30-24 loss on Nov. 25.

“I think incomplete is a way you could describe it,” he said of his Buckeyes’ career.

With no decision on the NFL draft comes no decision on whether Harrison will play in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29 in Dallas.

On Wednesday, Harrison was named the Associated Press Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. A consensus All-American in 2022, Harrison is the first Ohio State receiver with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in school history.

This season, Harrison made 67 catches for 1,211 yards with 14 touchdowns in 12 games. In 2022, he amassed 1,263 yards with 14 scores in 13 games.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Kyle Ford (81) is tackled by Tulane Green Wave linebacker Dorian Williams (2) in the second quarter in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cotton Bowl: No. 16 Tulane rallies from 15 down to slay No. 10 USC

Michael Pratt connected with Alex Bauman on a 6-yard scoring pass with nine seconds left and Valentino Ambrosio followed with the decisive extra point as No. 16 Tulane scored 16 points in the final 4:07 to notch a dramatic 46-45 victory over No. 10 Southern California to win the Cotton Bowl on Monday at Arlington, Texas.

After a series of late-game laterals by the Trojans were unsuccessful, the Green Wave players and coaches stormed the field to celebrate a signature win for Tulane’s program.

Tulane (12-2) completed the biggest year-to-year turnaround in FBS history after going 2-10 last season. It’s the first time the Green Wave have won a New Year’s Six bowl game since 1934 and only the second 12-win season in program history.

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams did all he could for USC (11-3), completing 37 of 52 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns. Playing without star wideout Jordan Addison (ankle), Williams’ favorite target on the day was Brenden Rice, who hauled in six passes for a career-high 174 yards and two scores.

Tulane was led by a rushing attack powered by Tyjae Spears, who racked up 205 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. Pratt ran for 83 yards and completed 8 of 17 passes for 234 yards.

USC is still searching for its first bowl win since the 2016 season.

After USC opened the scoring with a pair of passing touchdowns from Williams, Tulane tied the game at 14 with its first passing score of the contest, with Pratt finding Jha’Quan Jackson in the middle of the defense. Jackson made two defenders miss after bringing in the catch, then broke up the sideline and outran the rest of the USC defense for an 87-yard score.

That touchdown for Tulane came after Williams was picked off by Jarius Monroe, and it seemed to tilt momentum in the Green Wave’s favor. But the Trojans scored twice more to take a 28-14 advantage into halftime.

Tulane cut the deficit to four points in the third quarter, but USC again pulled away with two more scoring strikes from Williams to eventually lead 45-30.

The Trojans grinded out long possessions and kept the Green Wave’s tired defense on the field for long stretches. USC converted 13 of 17 third and fourth downs and held possession for more than 39 minutes. Still, USC’s well-rested defense couldn’t stop the Green Wave.

With less than five minutes to play, Tulane showed life and began erasing that 15-point deficit. After Spears’ fourth score, Tulane defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins stuffed a USC rush attempt in the end zone for a safety. That trimmed the deficit to six points and set up Pratt to orchestrate a 12-play, 66-yard game-winning drive.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt (7) rushes in for a touchdown against the UCF Knights during the second half  at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 USC missing key players for Cotton Bowl vs. No. 16 Tulane

Two 11-2 teams meet in the Cotton Bowl on Monday in Arlington, Texas, when No. 16 Tulane takes on No. 10 Southern California.

Both squads are coming off appearances in their conference championship games. The Green Wave beat UCF for the American Athletic Conference crown, while the Trojans fell to Utah in the Pac-12’s title bout.

Tulane is playing in its fourth bowl game in the past five seasons, but this may be the biggest bowl game the Green Wave have played in since they faced Texas A&M in the 1940 Sugar Bowl. Tulane has a chance to win a New Year’s Six bowl, beat a Power 5 opponent and achieve just the second 12-win season in program history.

For USC, an appearance in the Cotton Bowl caps off a remarkable one-year turnaround under first-year head coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans went 4-8 last season — marking just the third time in program history that that USC took that many defeats.

With Riley on the sideline and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at quarterback, the Trojans won double-digit games for the first time in five seasons. USC enters the Cotton Bowl with the nation’s third-best scoring offense at 41.1 points per game.

Williams sustained a hamstring injury in the loss to Utah but aims to play in the bowl game.

“I’m doing well. Hamstring is doing well,” Williams said recently. “I’m confident that I will be out there.”

While USC will be armed with Williams, it will be missing a handful of key players on both sides of the ball. Williams’ top target — former Biletnikoff Trophy winner Jordan Addison — will miss the game due to an ankle injury. Addison caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

USC will also be without a pair of starters on the offensive line, Andrew Vorhees and Brett Neilon, who are rehabbing injuries ahead of the NFL Draft. And on defense, linebacker Ralen Goforth entered the portal and announced a transfer to Washington. Goforth had 43 tackles and an interception this year.

Tulane enters the game with the 23rd-ranked scoring defense in the nation, allowing 20.5 points per game, and the 18th-best pass defense, allowing 188.5 yards per game through the air. Facing a USC offense without Addison and with a reshuffled offensive line, the Green Wave should have a chance to frustrate Williams.

In the Pac-12 championship game, Utah sacked Williams seven times. Tulane tallied six sacks in the AAC title game against UCF.

Williams amassed 4,075 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 66.1 percent of his throws.

“It’s very exciting, to have the opportunity to play a player of (Williams’) caliber, for sure,” Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams said, according to NOLA.com. “He has the ability to make any pass on the field and does a great job of moving in the pocket and outside the pocket. He has great legs.”

Tulane is led on offense by a mobile quarterback, too. Michael Pratt led the AAC in passer efficiency rating this season with a 159.7 mark, but he also rushed 114 times for 395 yards and 10 touchdowns. Through the air, he completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,775 yards and 25 touchdowns with five interceptions.

“We had a few of those mobile quarterbacks we played in games throughout this year,” USC defensive tackle Tyrone Taleni said. “We just needed to do better up front, making plays, executing our calls, and once we do that, it’ll be easy to contain him and not make any explosive plays in the backfield.”

USC is 2-1 all-time against Tulane, though the teams haven’t met since 1946.

This is the third time USC is playing in the Cotton Bowl. The Trojans beat Texas Tech in January 1995 and lost to Ohio State in December 2017. Tulane will be competing in the Cotton Bowl for the first time.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) runs the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Southern California WR Jordan Addison (ankle) to miss Cotton Bowl

Southern California receiver Jordan Addison will skip the Cotton Bowl against Tulane due to an ankle injury and is expected to soon declare for the NFL draft.

Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said that Addison will continue to rehab the ankle he initially injured against Utah on Oct. 15.

Addison will be one of the top available receivers should he enter the draft.

Addison has 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games for the No. 10 Trojans (11-2). He missed games against Arizona and Cal after being injured against but returned to play in the next four games.

He played the first two seasons of his college career for Pittsburgh before transferring after the 2021 season. Last year, Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver when he had 100 receptions for 1,593 yards and 17 scores for the Panthers.

Overall, Addison has 219 catches for 3,134 yards and 29 touchdowns in three college seasons.

Riley also said that starting guard Andrew Vorhees and center Brett Neilon will also miss the Jan. 2 game with injuries.

–Field Level Media