The Cotton Bowl was a slugfest. The Buckeyes were dominating, and then chaos erupted. Injury reports started flying in from both sidelines. Even Buckeyes QB Will Howard wasn’t immune, sporting a nasty knot on his middle knuckle. But the real scare came in the second quarter. Ohio State fans held their breath as their defensive star took a brutal hit.

Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, a guy who’s been wrecking offensive lines all season, hit the deck after Texas’s Eddrick Houston rolled up on his left ankle. You could almost feel the collective gasp from Buckeye Nation. Trainers rushed in, and Tuimoloau, tough as nails, limped off the field under his own power.

Next stop? The medical tent, where Ohio State’s staff literally wrapped that ankle like it was the last Christmas gift under the tree. Minutes later, JT came out helmet in hand, testing that banged-up ankle with sprints on the sideline. Looked like he was ready to roll back in. But as halftime hit with the Buckeyes up 14-7, Tuimoloau was still riding the bench.

A first-team All-Big Ten beast with 49 tackles, 17 for loss, and 10 sacks this season, JT already had 2 sacks before the injury, all in 1st quarter. Can the Buckeyes hold the line without him? That’s the million-dollar question.

Now, let’s get real—Tuimoloau is the type of guy you don’t just replace at DE. He’s the engine of Ohio State’s defense, and seeing him limping around the sideline was a mood killer. But there’s hope. The word is, JT wasn’t done, though. He’s been testing that ankle on the sidelines against teammate Josh Padilla, helmet on and looking ready. Buckeye fans everywhere are watching, hoping he’s good to go. Meanwhile, the Longhorns got their own dose of bad news.

Texas Longhorns’ go-to-receiver heads locker room with a slight left foot issue

Matthew Golden, Texas’s star receiver, checked out in the second quarter with a left foot issue. And just like that, the Cotton Bowl drama doubled. Golden started strong with a filthy 1-handed grab to convert a 3rd down on Texas’s opening drive. But after that, things got weird. Golden dipped with injury.

Golden got spotted in the medical tent early in the game, then came back onto the field—only to get flagged for a facemask penalty on a short pass play. Minutes later, the cameras caught him walking down the tunnel toward the locker room. Talk about a rollercoaster. His only stat? A single 24-yard grab, which now feels like a footnote to his otherwise electric season: 56 catches, 936 yards, and 9 touchdowns.

Golden’s absence is a massive blow for Texas. Let’s not sugarcoat it—this guy is their go-to playmaker. Without him, the Longhorns’ offense looked off. Losing your top receiver in a game like this? That’s like Avengers without the Hulk on their team.

With Tuimoloau sidelined and Golden in the locker room, the second half of the Cotton Bowl is shaping up to be a battle of wills. Can Ohio State’s defense hold up without their anchor? Will Texas find another hero to step up? The game’s tight, and every play feels like a turning point. One thing’s for sure—this isn’t just a football game; it’s a drama-packed heavyweight fight.