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.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard appeared to hit his non-throwing hand on a Texas player's helmet during the first half of the Cotton Bowl against the Longhorns on Friday. Howard stayed in the game despite a gruesome knot the ESPN broadcast noted was the size of a golf ball on hand.

One thing was apparent Friday night at Cotton Bowl: Something was wrong with the hand of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. And it was gross. Howard was seen on the broadcast and in game photos with a swollen left hand,