ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns line up for a play in the fourth quarter during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas – Much of Central Texas has its eyes on Arlington Friday night at the Cotton Bowl.
Several sports bars and restaurants hosted watch parties for Longhorn fans who couldn’t make it up to Arlington.
At The Goat in Pflugerville, a sea of burnt orange took over the restaurant’s watch party.
“You want people to cheer along with you, right?” said Janie Simmiank, a UT fan. “So we’re going to win this thing, and I’m going to take it all the way to the top.”
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Simmiank arrived well before kickoff with a crew of other die-hard UT Austin fans.
“It really makes us proud to know that we can go to that next level, and I’m glad everybody’s going to see our team compete on this national level and get their respect,” said Simmiank.
If UT wins the Cotton Bowl, they’ll secure a spot in the national championship game against Notre Dame.
“It’s been a long time coming since Vince Young I suppose,” said Lori Simmiank.
15 years, to be exact.
UT last went to the national championship in 2010, but unfortunately the team lost.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Jack Sawyer #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Ar
For the dozens of Longhorn fans in Pflugerville, there were a handful of Ohio ones, too.
Travis Carter proudly showed off his Ohio State sweatshirt in the crowd of burnt orange.
“I’m brave today because usually when I wear the gear of my team, we lose and maybe that’s good for Texas fans, but I’m here cheering on Ohio state,” said Carter. “Somebody’s got to represent.”
“We lost to Michigan, our rival, so this is the year we make up for that, and we win it all, and unfortunately we have to beat UT,” said Carter.
Whoever wins, fans say at least they have a crowd to cheer with.
“Family always makes it better, right?” said Lori Sammiank. “So if we’re winning, then we just build on the momentum and if we’re losing we build each other up, and we keep on going, and we just yell at the TV as loud as we can.”
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Lauren Rangel