The No. 8-seeded Buckeyes will meet the No. 7-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship game.

Quinshon Judkins ran for two touchdowns before Jack Sawyer forced a fumble by his former roommate and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers that he returned 83 yards for a touchdown with 2:13 left as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl. The 13-2 Buckeyes advance for a shot at their sixth national title. Their semifinal victory came in the same stadium where they were champions in the debut of the College Football Playoff as a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the debut of the expanded 12-team field when they play Notre Dame on January 20.

Ohio State closed out its regular season with a disappointing win against rival Michigan, and whether that's been motivation or not, the Buckeyes have turned this around and not looked back.

Ohio State and Texas are both seeking a chance to end national title droughts. Ohio State’s last national title was 10 years ago. Texas’ last national title was 19 years ago.

Texas and Ohio State arrived for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl before the snow expected to hit the North Texas area.

Texas avoided the first big upset of the College Football Playoff, hitting a fourth-and-long touchdown pass to keep the game going and beating Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime.