January 10 (UPI) — Jack Sawyer knocks the ball off Quinn Ewers’ pitcher, scoops it off the AT&T Stadium turf and thunders an 83-yard touchdown to give Ohio State a win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday. It became the driving force.
A 28-14 victory in the College Football Playoff semifinals in Arlington, Texas, gave the Buckeyes their final ticket to the title game, which they will play 10 days later in Atlanta against Notre Dame.
“After I made the tackle, I saw the ball come out in front of me,” Sawyer said on the ESPN broadcast. “When I scooped it up and saw the green grass in front of me, I thought I was going to pass out and try to stand up.”
The No. 8 seed Buckeyes (13-2) never trailed, but they allowed several rallies from the Longhorns (13-3) in the second half. The No. 5 Longhorns marched toward a third tie late in the fourth quarter, taking the ball to the Buckeyes’ 1-yard line but being pushed back.
Sawyer then swarmed Ewers on a game-breaking play. The senior defensive end’s 83-yard touchdown became the longest fumble return score in College Football Playoff history.
“Before the game, we talked about, “Do we want to leave a legacy and become a legend?” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said. “He just became an Ohio State legend.”
The Buckeyes held a close lead in total yards, 370-341, but totaled four sacks and forced two turnovers. Running back Quinshon Judkins scored two points. Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard completed 24 of 33 passes for 289 yards, one score, and one interception.
Ohio State scored on its first drive of the game. Judkins completed a 9-yard run midway through the first quarter, ending a 10-play, 64-yard possession.
Neither team scored until the final 30 seconds of the first half.
Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to running back Jadon Blue with 29 seconds left in the first half, but the Buckeyes regained momentum on the next play from scrimmage.
On that play, Howard threw a screen pass to TrayVeyon Henderson. The Buckeyes running back caught the feed, turned and went 75 yards to the end zone, the longest play the Longhorns have allowed this season. The touchdown allowed the Buckeyes to maintain a 14-7 lead going into the break.
Howard threw an interception to Longhorns linebacker David Gneva on the first drive of the second half. The Longhorns were unable to capitalize on the turnover, but the defense again froze the Buckeyes on their next attack. About five minutes later, Ewers completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Blue, allowing the Longhorns to tie the game for the second time.
The Buckeyes rallied and fought back with a 7-minute, 45-second drive in the fourth quarter. Judkins ended the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the lead back to the Buckeyes.
Ewers and the Longhorns quickly marched deep into Buckeyes territory on their next drive, but stalled in the red zone. Sawyer sacked the Longhorns’ quarterback to end the possession, then scooped up the loose ball and scored the game-breaking touchdown.
Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs intercepted Ewers on the next drive, clinching the victory. Ewers completed 23 of 39 passes for 289 yards and two scores with two turnovers.
They will face the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish in the title game on January 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
