Ohio State vs. Texas Cotton Bowl May Ride on Quarterbacks, Kickers, and Chaos | Deadspin.com

Count Mother Nature among the X factors for this year’s Cotton Bowl, with the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex bracing for a winter storm later this week with snowfall projected between three and six inches.Ohio State vs. Texas Cotton Bowl May Ride on Quarterbacks, Kickers, and Chaos | Deadspin.com

Organizers released a statement late Tuesday, saying they are monitoring the weather reports. However, they closed the statement by saying everything is expected to go on as planned with Ohio State and Texas both arriving on Wednesday afternoon with kickoff set for Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State vs. Texas Cotton Bowl May Ride on Quarterbacks, Kickers, and Chaos | Deadspin.com

While the weather may make headlines off the field, the real X factors will be on it. Let’s talk football and three X factors.

Which offensive playmakers step up? This game features two of the top defenses in the country. Ohio State boasts the top-ranked total defense and scoring defense. Texas checks in at No. 3 and No. 4 in those categories, as well as ranking second in turnovers gained with 30.

So, which offensive playmakers will be able to break through against the respective defenses? For Ohio State, eyes will be on star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has wowed thus far in the playoffs. For Texas, establishing the run is pivotal, so it has to create lanes for Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue. That’s easier said than done, of course, as Ohio State held Oregon to minus-23 yards rushing in the Rose Bowl.

Who gets more pressure on the QB? Making the quarterback uncomfortable is important for both teams if they want to reach the national championship. The good news is the pass rush is impressive on both sides.

Ohio State has 47 sacks on the season, including eight in its victory over Oregon. That included two apiece by defensive ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. It’s no secret those two have to continue applying pressure off the edge, although Texas does have talented tackles in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cameron Williams. Banks is projected as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, and some believe Williams will join him in that round. Williams missed the Arizona State game with a right knee strain, but reports suggest he could return this week.

For Texas' pass rush, it’s a tall order to get to Will Howard as Ohio State’s O-line has given up just 12 sacks. But the Longhorns rank 15th in the country with 44 sacks, led by Colin Simmons’ nine sacks. Simmons had one sack against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Trey Moore also found ways to get into the backfield against Arizona State, registering two sacks.

Who has the clutch kicker? If this game is as close as expected, it could easily ride on the kickers.

Texas’ Bert Auburn missed two field goal attempts of 48 and 38 yards in the final 1:39 of regulation against Arizona State, but his team remains confident in him.

As Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron said this week, “Bert, he’s made a lot of amazing kicks for us in the past. He’s going to come up big when we need him.”

For the season, Auburn is 16 of 25 on field goal attempts and a perfect 64 of 64 on PATs. Auburn’s long is 49 yards this season.

For Ohio State, Jayden Fielding is coming off a game in which he made both of his field goal attempts vs. Oregon. He missed a 56-yard attempt against Tennessee in the first round.

For the season, Fielding is 11 of 15 on field goal attempts and a perfect 65 of 65 on PATs. Fielding’s long is 46 yards this season.