TICKETS THE CLASSIC FAN ZONE AT&T STADIUM MEDIA PORTAL
NEWS RELEASES
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Records
Individual Game Records:
USC wide receiver Deonta Burnett set a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic record for receptions in a game with 12 catches for 139 yards. The previous record for receptions in a game was held by Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State who had 11 receptions (223 yards) vs. Ole Miss in 2004.
Ohio State defensive back Kyle Sheffield tied a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic record with four pass break ups, tying four other players. The last to have four pass break ups in a single Cotton Bowl game was Kansas State’s Mario Smith (1997).
USC quarterback Sam Darnold’s 356 yards passing ranks fourth in Cotton Bowl history and is the most since Bryce Petty of Baylor set the Cotton Bowl record in 2015 with 550 yards.
Darnold’s 45 passing attempts and his 26 completions both rank fifth in the single game Cotton Bowl record book. His total number of plays, including 11 rushes, tied for fourth most individual total plays in Cotton Bowl history.
Team Scoring Records:
Ohio State scored on its first possession of the game, marking the 35th time in the 82 years of the Classic that a team has scored on its first offensive possession of the game. It is third time in the past four Classics that a team has scored on its
initial drive.
Ohio State’s 17 points in the second quarter tied for the fourth-most in that quarter in Classic history, matching Ole Miss’ 17 points vs. Texas Tech in 2009. (Record 21 points set three times).
Ohio State’s 24 points tied for 7th in Classic history for points by one team in the first half. The 24 points are also the most since Baylor scored 24 points in the first half against Michigan State in the 2015 Classic. (Record 34 points – USC vs. Texas Tech, 1995).
Ohio State became the 47th team in 82 games (57.3%) to score first in the Cotton Bowl Classic and go on to win the game.
Ohio State became the 53rd team in 82 games (64.6%) to win after leading at the half and the 61st team in 82 games (74.4%) to win after leading after three quarters.
The scoreless second half was the first combined scoreless half in a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic since the 1971 game between Notre Dame and Texas.
Team Scoring Drive Record:
Ohio State’s scoring drive that culminated in a touchdown at 12:25 of the first quarter is the eighth quickest scoring drive in Classic history. The scoring drive was five plays, and went 19 yards in 1:12 TOP.
Team Defensive Record:
Ohio State’s eight total quarterback sacks ties for third in Cotton Bowl history. BYU had eight sacks vs. Kansas State in 1997 and Arkansas recorded eight sacks vs. Texas in 2000. (Record – 9 sacks – Miami vs. Texas, 1991, Oklahoma vs. Arkansas, 2002).
Team Offensive Record:
USC’s 16 first downs, by passing, ties for fourth (with Oklahoma State, 2014) in Cotton Bowl history.
Last Time It Happened:
Ohio State’s Damon Webb returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was the first time an interception was returned for a TD in Classic history since 2009 when Marshay Green of Ole Miss returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown against Texas Tech. It is also the first interception returned for a TD in Classic history at AT&T Stadium.
