Where: Glendale, Ariz.
When: 6 p.m.
TV: KDVR-31.
Series record: Tied 1-1.
Last meeting: Ohio State won 24-7 at Austin on Sept. 9, 2006.
What’s at stake: The Longhorns (11-1) have a slim shot at a share of the national title. They need to leap from No. 3 to No. 1 in The Associated Press poll, and that presumably would require No. 1 Florida to lose to second-ranked Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game Thursday night in Miami. The Longhorns would have to hope the pollsters credit them for handing the Sooners their only loss of the season. For the Buckeyes (10-2), the Fiesta Bowl represents an opportunity to restore their place among the national elite after lopsided losses in the last two BCS title games.
Key matchup: Texas’ offense against Ohio State’s defense. The Buckeyes allow only 13 points per game, seventh in the nation. But their supposedly stout defense was exposed by Florida and LSU in the last two BCS title games. The Buckeyes have to figure out a way to slow Heisman Trophy runner-up Colt McCoy, who directs a Texas offense averaging 43.9 points, fifth nationally.
Players to watch:Ohio State — RB Beanie Wells. The junior from Akron, Ohio, overcame injuries to rush for 1,091 yards in just nine games. With 3,276 yards, Wells ranks fourth on the fabled career list of Ohio State rushers. Wells did not play in the Buckeyes’ 35-3 loss at Southern California on Sept. 13. Texas — WR Jordan Shipley. The senior from Burnet, Texas, had his best games against the Longhorns’ top opponents. In a four-game stretch against teams ranked in the top 11, he caught 40 passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to help spark the Longhorns to a 45-35 victory over Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 11.
Facts and figures: A Texas victory would move the Longhorns ahead of Notre Dame for second place on the all-time list of major-college leaders. They’re tied with 831 victories. Michigan leads with 872. . . . This is Texas’ 11th consecutive bowl appearance, a school record. The Longhorns have won six of their last seven, including BCS victories over Michigan and Southern California in the Rose Bowl. . . . The Buckeyes are 8-6 against the top 10 under coach Jim Tressel but have lost four straight. Tressel’s Buckeyes have knocked off No. 1 Miami, No. 8 Kansas State and No. 6 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. . . . McCoy, a junior, led Texas in passing and rushing yards this season. The only others to do that at Texas: Vince Young in 2005 and Bobby Layne in 1946. . . . Terrelle Pryor is the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Ohio State since Art Schlichter in 1978.
The Associated Press
