ESPN’s coverage of the Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas on Friday night included the broadcast of an on-field prayer before the game.
The prayer was read by former Cotton Bowl Athletic Association President Fred McClure immediately following a moment of silence to honor those killed by the California wildfires and the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans on January 1 that killed 14 people. innocent people.
“Beloved Father, we ask for your blessings today for all those gathered here and especially for those on the field as we gather to celebrate the 89th Cotton Bowl Classic, we lift up the young men representing the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns. Protect them from injury and harm. Instill in them a deep respect for each other and reward them for their perseverance,” McClure said.
“We are grateful for the freedom and privilege we have in this nation to compete and connect through sport. Yet we think of those who cannot participate due to violence, poverty or discrimination. Lord, inspire our hearts to overcome these barriers by striving to be our best, treating others with dignity and respect, and reflecting your grace and kindness in all we do. now all your glory, your power and your honor forever, amen!
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Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard touchdown run against the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in January. , 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Ohio State then defeated Texas 28-14 to advance to the national championship game against Notre Dame.
ESPN’s broadcast of the pregame prayer comes after a week of immense backlash following the network’s decision not to broadcast the national anthem before the Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans, which was postponed January 1-2 following the Sugar Bowl game. attack.
The backlash prompted the network to air the national anthem from the Sugar Bowl later in the week on a Thursday edition of “SportsCenter.” Still, many fans considered the channel’s move too late at this point. The network also made sure to air the national anthem before Thursday’s Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame.
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Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue (23) celebrates with offensive lineman Jake Majors (65) after a touchdown catch during the third quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Pictures (Jérôme Miron-Imagn Images)
ESPN also wasn’t the only company to provoke violent backlash during its presentation of the Sugar Bowl.
Allstate CEO Tom Wilson sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media with a video statement addressing the terrorist attack in New Orleans just before Sugarof which Allstate is the official sponsor. In the video, Wilson suggests that Americans have an “addiction to divisions” and must “accept people’s imperfections and differences.”
General view of the stadium before the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas Longhorns College football Playoff semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl Classic on January 10, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Our prayers went out to the victims and their families. We must also be stronger together by overcoming our addiction to divisions and negativity. Join Allstate as it works in local communities across America to amplify positivity, increase trust and accept people’s imperfections and differences, together we win,” Wilson says in the video.
Many fans insisted they would cancel their Allstate insurance plans after the video was released.
Allstate later removed the video from its social media accounts.
