ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Quinshon Judkins ran for two touchdowns as Ohio State defeated Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, but Jack Sawyer forced a fumble by his former roommate. and returned it 83 yards for a score with 2:13 left. This is the night they move toward winning their sixth national title.
The Buckeyes (13-2) won in the semifinals at the same stadium where they were champions in the debut of the four-team College Football Playoff 10 years ago. Now they have a chance to be winners again in the debut of an expanded 12-team field.
Ohio State will play Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame in Atlanta on January 20th.
Sawyer hit Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers from No. 8 for his fourth and goal, flicked the ball, scooped it up and staggered to the opposite end. This was the longest fumble return in CFP history.
Ewers and Sawyer were roommates for one semester in Columbus before the quarterback moved to Texas, helping lead the Longhorns (13-3) to back-to-back CFP semifinals. But next season will be his 20th since winning his last national title with Vince Young in 2005.
Texas reached a one-score lead, aided by two pass interference penalties in the end zone, until Quinleveon Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss.
Judkins scored a 1-yard touchdown with 7:02 left to take a 21-14 lead. The score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard went 2-for-4 on an 18-yard run from the Texas 34 that nearly scored.
Howard completed 24 of 33 passes for 289 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Ewers went 23-of-39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jadon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back one last time.
