Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer capped a memorable College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic with an electrifying 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown, clinching the Buckeyes’ 28-14 victory over the Texas Longhorns on Friday night. The win sends Ohio State (13-2) to the CFP National Championship, where they will face Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
The Buckeyes, seeking their sixth Associated Press national title, showcased resilience and big-play ability in a game that highlighted two former roommates turned rivals. Sawyer’s decisive strip-sack of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his teammate during Ewers’ brief tenure in Columbus — came on a pivotal fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line with just over two minutes remaining. Sawyer knocked the ball loose, recovered it, and rumbled 83 yards into the end zone, setting a new CFP record for the longest fumble return.
“It was surreal,” Sawyer said. “Quinn and I have a lot of history, but when it’s game time, it’s all about winning for your team. This was a special moment, not just for me but for all of Buckeye Nation.”
Ohio native Sawyer’s defensive heroics complemented a standout performance from running back Quinshon Judkins, a transfer from Ole Miss, who rushed for two touchdowns. His 1-yard score with 7:02 left in the game capped an impressive 88-yard, 13-play drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock.
Quarterback Will Howard, a Kansas State transfer, was instrumental in the Buckeyes’ offensive success, completing 24 of 33 passes for 289 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Howard’s 18-yard fourth-down scramble in the fourth quarter set up Judkins’ second touchdown, though Howard admitted he felt it should have been a score.
“Will showed incredible poise in this environment,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “He’s been a leader for us all season, and tonight was no different.”
For the Longhorns (13-3), Ewers delivered a gutsy performance, completing 23 of 39 passes for 283 yards with two touchdowns to Jaydon Blue and one interception. Despite his efforts, including a remarkable underhand toss to Quintrevion Wisner on third-and-10 to extend a drive, the Texas offense faltered late.
Texas appeared poised to tie the game late in the fourth quarter after two pass-interference penalties placed the ball at the 1-yard line. However, the Buckeyes’ defense held firm, stuffing Wisner for a 7-yard loss and forcing two incomplete passes before Sawyer’s game-clinching play.
Ewers, who may declare for the NFL Draft, reflected on the loss and his matchup with Sawyer. “We gave it everything we had, but Jack made a phenomenal play,” Ewers said. “He’s a great player, and it’s tough losing like this, especially against someone you know so well.”
Ohio State struck first with Judkins’ 9-yard touchdown run on the opening drive, but Texas battled back, tying the game at 7 just before halftime on Ewers’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Blue. The Buckeyes quickly regained the lead early in the third quarter when running back TreVeyon Henderson turned a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown, showcasing his speed and vision.
Blue’s second touchdown, a 26-yard reception with 3:12 left in the third quarter, tied the game again at 14, setting the stage for Ohio State’s dominant fourth-quarter performance.
Ohio State now has the opportunity to add another championship in the first season of the CFP’s expanded 12-team format, returning to the same stadium where they won the inaugural playoff title 10 years ago.
For Texas, the loss marked their second consecutive semifinal defeat, but head coach Steve Sarkisian remained optimistic about the program’s future as they prepare to join the SEC. “We’ve come a long way, but we’re not done yet,” Sarkisian said. “This team will be back, and we’ll be ready for Ohio State in the 2025 opener.”
The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will meet in the CFP National Championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta, with Ohio State seeking redemption for their November loss to Michigan and a chance to reclaim college football’s ultimate prize.
