By: Branson Wright (Cleveland.com) —
The Fiesta Bowl has all of the makings of a competitive game.

Texas enters the game fighting mad because of its perceived slight that it is not in the national championship game. Texas defeated Oklahoma by 10 points on a neutral field during the regular season. Texas was also left out of the Big 12 Championship game.

Since Oklahoma will play Florida for the national championship, Texas will try to take its frustration out on the Buckeyes. Texas figures a big win over Ohio State and a close victory over Florida by Oklahoma could result in Florida taking the BCS championship and the Longhorns earning a share of a national title by winning the No. 1 spot in the final Associated Press poll.

But wait a minute.

The Buckeyes also have something to prove. The Buckeyes have been blown out in the last two national championship games, and a third blowout, or even a loss, will not be the charm.
The Fiesta Bowl will give the Buckeyes a chance to prove their loss against USC was because of Beanie Wells’ injury and because Terrelle Pryor was not the starting quarterback.

And that loss against Penn State? Well, one play made the difference.

So a Fiesta Bowl victory will not mean a national title for the Buckeyes, but it could give them something just as important: Respect, and a chance to silence their critics.