The 2009 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl features two teams with National Title aspirations earlier in the season. The Ohio State Buckeyes, sporting a 10-2 record, began the season with high expectations to go along with a Top 5 ranking until they ran into the Trojans of USC and the nations #1 scoring defense, losing 35-3 in what was expected to be a close contest. OSU enters the Fiesta Bowl ranked #10 in the BCS standings, sneaking into a BCS game following Oregon State's loss to Oregon, which knocked Oregon State out of the Rose Bowl. The Texas Longhorns are 11-1, there only loss being a last second defeat to Texas Tech, 39-33. Texas comes into this game ranked #3 in the BCS standings, and was 1/100 of a point away from passing Oklahoma in the previous weeks BCS standings which determined the tiebreaker for the Big 12 South champion.
Offense:
Ohio State sports arguably the top freshman quarterback in the nation: Terrelle Pryor. Pryor leads an explosive attack with Beanie Wells at tailback and a core of experienced receivers. Ohio State's line is huge and can open large holes for Wells and the other OSU backs.
The Longhorns run a spread offense with Colt McCoy under center. A Heisman finalist, McCoy is an efficient passer and a nimble rusher. McCoy threw for over 3,000 yards and rushed for over 500 this season. Although Texas has no standout WR's or RB's, Jordan Shipley and Cody Johnson are solid options. Shipley also poses a threat in the return game.
Advantage: Texas, Ohio State has better RB's and WR's, but Colt McCoy is a stud who has played in big games like this before.
Defense:
Ohio State boasts several future 1st round draft picks, led by Safety Malcolm Jenkins. This defense is oozing with talent and held Penn State to 13 points earlier in the season. Watch for James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman to make some big plays at linebacker.
Texas has one of the best defensive lines in the country, led by DE Brian Orakpo. Expect the Texas defense to allow a few big plays but overall play a solid game.
Advantage: Ohio State by a nose, Texas hasn't played against a QB like Pryor with such a talent base around him.
Intangibles: Ohio State has won the past three Fiesta Bowls it has played in
Score: Texas 31-24
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