ON TO THE ATL

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State football coach Ryan Day recalls all too well how it all unfolded, recalls all too well how such a disastrous turn of events left his players feeling downright despondent, morose, and bummed out.

Heck, for weeks, Day has been reminded of what exactly transpired 40 days prior.

It was brought up again Friday night, the Buckeyes’ regular-season-ending setback to nemesis Michigan that resulted in several Wolverine players storming the Ohio Stadium field and attempting to plant a flag at the 50-yard line.

“Well, I think when you look at the guys that we have in our program, you see guys who are tough,” Day said. “You see guys who were resilient. And you see guys that care about each other. You see guys that love being Buckeyes. You’re seeing two of them right here.”

One in particular was Jack Sawyer whom, as his coach repeatedly said Friday, “will forever be a legend in Columbus” after the senior defensive end helped sealed the Buckeyes’ 28-14 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

“I hit about the 30 (yard line), and I looked back, I’m like, ‘I hope I get some blockers. I’m running out of steam here,'” Sawyer said after being named the Cotton Bowl’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. “They were running with me, side by side. That speaks volume to who this team is, too, you know. We always have each other’s back. It was a special moment.”

An announced crowd of 74,527 at AT&T Stadium witnessed No. 8 Ohio State advance to the College Football Playoff championship game, thanks in large part to a game-clinching goal line stand.

On fourth-and-goal from the 8, Sawyer rushed Texas quarterback Quin Ewens, forced a fumble and recovery at the 17, then sprinted 83 yards untouched for a score that effectively put the game out of reach with 2:13 remaining.

Friday’s win was Ohio State’s third straight since its loss to Michigan, last year’s CFP national champion.

Most importantly, the Buckeyes (13-2) now have a chance to complete what undoubtedly is shaping up to be a feel-good story for the ages when they face No. 7 Notre Dame for the national title January 20 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“Yeah, I couldn’t be prouder,” Day said. “I just love stories of guys who go through difficult times, stay loyal, defend the people they love the most, and then come out the back end. I just love that in life.”

Friday’s game was mostly a closely-contested slugfest between two of college football’s blue bloods, a clash that wasn’t decided until the game’s final possession.

HOOKED

With the Longhorns (13-3) trailing 28-14, Ohio State’s Caleb Down intercepted Ewers at the Texas 34, then slid after a 7-yard return to preserve the win and send the Buckeyes to the national title game for the first time since 2021.

Ohio State will be seeking its ninth national championship in school history and its first since it seized the inaugural CFP crown in 2014.

The Buckeyes never trailed against the Longhorns in a game that was comprised of two ties.

Prior to Sawyer’s game-deciding play, Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins accounted for two touchdowns, including a 1-yard scoring run that put the Buckeyes ahead to stay, 21-14, with 7:45 remaining in the fourth quarter.

In capturing its eighth win in its past nine outings, Ohio State overcame a rash of mental mishaps, most notably nine penalties, totaling 75 yards, including consecutive pass interference calls during the crucial goal line stand.

The Buckeyes outgained Texas, 370-341, much of which were manufactured by quarterback Will Howard, who finished with 22 of 33 attempts for 289 yards, one touchdown, and an interception.

The Longhorns, meanwhile, got a masterful performance from Ewers, who registered 283 yards on 23 of 39 passing, including touchdown passes of 18 and 26 to running back Jaydon Blue.

After Texas turned the ball over on downs, Ohio State drove 64 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead when Judkins scored on a 9-yard run with 4:18 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Longhorns finally got on the board moments before intermission.

Ewers found Blue open in the left flat, where he raced 18 yards to the end zone to tie it 7 at the 1:22, capping a seven-play, 59-yard drive.

The Buckeyes wasted little time to regain the lead when TreVeyon Henderson fielded a screen pass from Howard on the game’s next play, then broke free for a 75-yard score to give Ohio State a 14-7 at the break.

Texas would produce the game’s final tie late in the third quarter.

The Longhorns drove 67 yards in 12 plays to knot it 14 when Ewers hooked up with Blue again, this time on a wide open 26-yard TD pass with 3:12 remaining.

THEY AIN’T DONE

Then after Judkins’ second rushing score made it 21-14, Ohio State, midway through the fourth, the Buckeyes subsequently delivered a dagger to the hearts of the opposition.

Left unguarded, Sawyer sprinted toward Ewers, his former college roommate who coughed up the ball. After a single bounce, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher scooped it up, then raced 83 yards to the end zone, extending the lead to 28-14 with just 2:13 remaining — thus emerging as a “legend in Columbus.”

Forever. 

“Yeah, hell of a football game,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Two really good teams battling. They made two big plays, you know. They hit the screen at the end of the first half and got the sack fumble on fourth down there for a touchdown. Two really good teams. Ton of credit to Ohio State. They’re a very good football team, well-coached, hard-fought game. I’m really proud of our players for the resiliency they showed tonight to fight back to get into the game, to have an opportunity first to go on the one, and weren’t able to put it in.”

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder/Publisher & Editor In Chief of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson primarily covers the NBA, NFL, and college football. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.

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