For most of the game, Ohio State's performance against Texas in the Cotton Bowl much more resembled their loss against Michigan than the two ass-beatings of playoff teams that came after it. Mental errors stunted an already fitful offensive effort, and while the defense was doing everything it could to keep the Buckeyes in the game I was pretty well convinced by the fourth quarter that Ryan Day's team was in serious danger of running out of gas.
But emotions are powerful things. When this team says that they love each other, I believe it. When they say that they're fighting for another week to spend with each other, I believe it.