• Tara Bozick •
• Originally published January 5, 2009 at 2 a.m., updated January 5, 2009 at 2 a.m.

Little, if any buzz has surrounded the Fiesta Bowl. That doesn't mean we're not about to see a great game, though.

Texas was one stop against Texas Tech away from playing for a national championship, while Ohio State has played for a title the past two years. The winner of today's game in Glendale, Ariz., will not be the national champion, but that shouldn't take away from a great matchup between two of the best programs in the nation.

We are getting one last opportunity to watch the Longhorns, and it comes against a team they've played the last two regular seasons. Texas took out the Buckeyes in Austin two years ago, while they fell in Columbus last year. This game gives Ohio State a chance to feel good about its season, while Texas has a chance to show voters that they, not Oklahoma, should have been playing for the national championship.

Texas' claim to its right to play for the BCS title is valid, but it should be forgotten, at least for this day. With a win, the Longhorns will join Utah and Southern California as teams that will be able to whine about how unfair it is that Florida and Oklahoma are the only schools with a chance for a championship.

All have the right, and frankly, aren't wrong. Hopefully someday soon we'll have a form of a playoff in major college football, but it's not going to happen today or this year. What is happening is another excuse to sit back, relax, freak out and have fun while watching the Longhorns one last time this season.

The Longhorns come into the game averaging 43.9 points per game, while limiting their opponents to just over 18. The Buckeyes and freshman quarterback Terrell Pryor are scoring 28.2 this year, but Ohio State's defense holds a slight advantage over Texas by holding opponents to 13 points per game.

Texas played in the Big 12 and faced offenses that Ohio State only watched like the rest of us on television. That should give the Longhorns an advantage. Look for Colt McCoy and the Texas offense to put up some big numbers. The scoring will not be as easy as it was against the Texas Aggies, though.

The Buckeyes are led by linebacker James Laurinaitis who has 121 tackles this year and will be playing on Sundays for many years to come. McCoy will have to spread the ball around and be aware of Laurinaitis at all times.

Texas just needs to keep playing the way it has all season, and a Fiesta Bowl trophy should be coming back to Austin. Jordan Shipley, Quan Cosby, Brandon Collins and Malcolm Williams have all displayed their abilities at wide receiver and running back Chris Ogbonnaya is a threat McCoy can use out of the backfield. Texas will look to use its speed and keep the Buckeyes off balance.

Its also looking to build for next year and send a parting message this year.

Wes Bloomquist is a sports writer at the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6509 or wbloomquist@vicad.com.

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