The Cotton Bowl is just around the corner, and it’s crunch time for Ohio State. Can they finally take down the Texas Longhorns? After three seasons of falling short of their grand goals—conference titles, national championships, you name it—Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are in full-on, championship-or-bust mode.

In today’s cutthroat college football world, winning is no easy feat. It takes more than just talent—it takes money. And Ohio State knows that better than anyone. That’s why they’ve been shelling out some serious cash to keep their star players on campus. According to AD Ross Bjork, they’ve pulled in “around $20 million” from donors and sponsors to make sure their top recruits stay put.

This “$20M narrative” has become a hot topic among college football pundits. Last night, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard got into a heated exchange about it. Howard, a Michigan legend from Ohio, threw some shade at Ohio State, accusing them of essentially ‘buying’ their roster. Herbstreit wasn’t having any of it. He shot down that claim, explaining that the money is used to cover player expenses and ensure their happiness at Ohio State. Let’s be real—everyone’s looking for an edge these days.

Herbstreit hit back at Howard, saying, “The perception is wrong with Ohio State. So the perception is they went out and bought $20 million. The reality is they paid 20 million to keep their guys from leaving and going elsewhere.” He pointed out that nine of Ohio State’s 11 starting defensive players have been there for at least three seasons, with the only major additions being Caleb Downs, QB Will Howard, and center Seth McLaughlin from Alabama. Herbstreit made it clear: this isn’t a roster full of fresh faces. As Herbstreit put it, “You know what it’s like when you have a three and four guys have been there forever, won a lot of great games, lost a lot to Michigan, lost to Oregon, lost to Georgia. It’s a hardened team that’s been through a lot of sh-t.” So, according to him, this is just Ohio State’s last stand.

Even though OSU didn’t add many players through the transfer portal, the ones they did acquire are expected to have a big impact this season. RB Quinshon Judkins, QB Will Howard center Seth McLaughlin, and safety Caleb Downs might be among the best players in the country.

Let’s be honest, keeping this roster together didn’t come cheap. There were some hefty NIL deals involved to land key transfers and convince top players to stay in Columbus. But if they can finally capture that elusive national title, it’ll all have been worth it. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are loaded for bear heading into the Cotton Bowl. They’ve assembled an incredible team, whether it was with the help of that ’20 million’ or not. Now the question is: can they finally break through and hoist the trophy?

Ryan Day on getting ready for the Cotton Bowl

The 2024 Cotton Bowl showdown between Texas and Ohio State is more than just a playoff game; it’s a sneak peek at what could be a massive 2025 season opener. These two titans of college football will clash again less than eight months later, making this matchup even more intriguing. Coaches Steve Sarkisian of Texas and Ryan Day of OSU attended a press conference on Thursday to discuss the Cotton Bowl.

Both coaches gave a thumbs-up to the new 12-team playoff. It gives teams a second chance after a couple of stumbles, like Ohio State’s losses to Oregon and Michigan and Texas’ defeats against Georgia. Now, looking ahead to the Texas matchup, Day said, “I feel like we’ve had good preparation, but you don’t just walk into a game like this and think you’re gonna go play. You gotta get your body, your mind, and your spirit and soul ready to go play. So we’ll continue on the preparation, focus on Texas.”

With standouts like Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau on the edge, Tyleik Williams dominating the trenches, and playmakers like Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom, Emeka Egbuka, and TreVeyon Henderson, this Ohio State team is loaded. It’s clear that Ryan Day and his crew have been putting in the work. Now, let’s see if they can deliver tomorrow.