The Buckeyes took a 7-0 lead early in the game as the Ohio State defense had kept Texas in check. And Howard’s hand was not the only high-profile injury of the first half. Texas’ top receiver Matthew Golden suffered an ankle injury after he got rolled up on in the first half and tried to return before leaving the game.

Ohio State, for a third straight College Football Playoff game, jumped out of the gates on fire against Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. Quarterback Will Howard led the Buckeyes on an easy touchdown drive on their first possession.