Jack Sawyer had the sort of second that may dwell on long gone his taking part in days with Ohio State. In fact, yet another victory would make it that a lot sweeter.
Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers – his former roommate – and returned the fumble 83 yards for the clinching landing in a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns within the Cotton Bowl on Friday evening, giving the Buckeyes a shot at their sixth AP nationwide title.
“We talked earlier than the sport about how do you permit a legacy is to develop into your previous legend. And there’s some guys on this staff as we speak that I consider will develop into legends in Ohio State historical past,” coach Ryan Day stated. “Now they get 10 extra days collectively, and a possibility to inform their story in the event that they go win yet another.”
Led by Ohio native Sawyer and Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for 2 touchdowns, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semi-final victory in the identical stadium the place 10 years in the past they have been champions when the School Soccer Playoff debuted with a four-team format. Now they’ve the chance to be the winner once more within the first season with an expanded 12-team area.
Ohio State performs Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame in Atlanta on 20 January. It might be fairly a end for the Huge Ten Buckeyes after they misplaced to rivals Michigan on 30 November.
Sawyer obtained to Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball unfastened earlier than scooping it up and lumbering all the way in which to the opposite finish zone with 2:13 left. It was the longest fumble return in CFP historical past.
“I noticed the ball come out proper to me after I tackled him, I used to be simply pondering, I’ve obtained to remain on my toes, as a result of I virtually blacked out once I scooped it and noticed a bunch of inexperienced grass forward of me,” Sawyer stated.
Ewers and Sawyer have been roommates in Columbus for one semester earlier than the quarterback transferred house to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semi-finals, however subsequent season might be their twentieth since successful their final nationwide title with Vince Younger in 2005.
“I felt him. I began drifting away, thought I used to be going to have the ability to get the ball off earlier than he obtained there,” Ewers stated. “I noticed Jack working with the ball down the sideline. … Jack’s a very good participant made an amazing play.”
Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties ultimately zone, earlier than Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a seven-yard loss. Ewers then threw a third-down incompletion whereas being pressured by Sawyer on the play earlier than the defensive landing.
“He’s every thing that we probably ask for in a captain,” Day stated. “To make a play like that in that second … He simply turned a legend at Ohio State.”
Judkins, a switch from Mississippi, had a one-yard landing for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left, capping an 88-yard, 13-play drive over 7:45. That rating got here 4 performs after quarterback Will Howard transformed a fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with a stumbling 18-yard run that most likely ought to have been a rating.
“That fourth down was big. … I fell on objective. I’m joking,” Howard stated. “An announcement drive. We wanted that.”
Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a landing and an interception. He performed his first recreation at AT&T Stadium since main Kansas State to a win over undefeated TCU within the Huge 12 championship two years in the past. He was 0-3 as a starter in opposition to the Longhorns whereas at Okay-State, together with an additional time thriller in Austin final season.
Ewers completed 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball again one remaining time. It might need been his final play for the Longhorns since he might go into the NFL draft.
Texas received the Huge 12 title final season earlier than shifting to the SEC.
The Buckeyes went forward on their opening drive of the sport when Judkins scored on a nine-yard run. It seemed as if they may get off to a different quick begin, after leaping forward 21-0 and 34-0 of their first two playoff video games.
However Ohio State then punted on 4 consecutive possessions earlier than Texas tied it at 7 on Ewers’ 18-yard landing go to Blue with 29 seconds left within the first half. Arch Manning, the backup and future beginning quarterback, saved that drive alive when he transformed fourth-and-1 from midfield with an eight-yard keeper – his solely play within the recreation.
Proper after Texas’ first TD, Buckeyes working again TreVeyon Henderson turned a display go right into a 75-yard landing, following a wall of blockers earlier than capturing by way of an open hole and sprinting to the top zone.
Blue had a tying 26-yard TD catch with 3:12 left within the third quarter. The drive featured a terrific play by Ewers, who was being dragged down by Sawyer on third-and-10 when he managed to scoop the ball underhanded to Wisner for a 13-yard acquire.
Whereas Ohio State put together for the CFP title recreation, Texas await a rematch with the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium within the beforehand scheduled 2025 season opener on 30 August.
