Ohio State defensive finish Jack Sawyer, prime, runs for a landing after recovering a fumble by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, backside, throughout the second half of the Cotton Bowl Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal recreation, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Picture/Gareth Patterson)
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Quinshon Judkins ran for 2 touchdowns earlier than Jack Sawyer pressured a fumble by his former roommate that he returned 83 yards for a clinching TD as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 within the Cotton Bowl on Friday evening to advance to a shot for his or her sixth nationwide title.
Led by Judkins and Sawyer, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the identical stadium the place 10 years in the past they have been champions within the debut of the Faculty Soccer Playoff as a four-team format. Now they’ve the chance to be the winner once more within the debut of the expanded 12-team area.
Ohio State performs Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It may very well be fairly a end for the Buckeyes after they misplaced to rival Michigan on Nov. 30.
“About a month ago, a lot of people counted us out. And these guys went to work, this team, these leaders, the captains, the staff,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned. “Everybody in the building believed. And because of that, I believe we won the game in the fourth quarter.”
Sawyer received to Texas quarterback Quinn 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 saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer mentioned. “Just walking off, he said, ‘Screw you,’ and started laughing. Obviously that’s my boy.”
Ewers and Sawyer have been roommates in Columbus for one semester earlier than the quarterback transferred dwelling to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals, however subsequent season might be their twentieth since profitable their final nationwide title with Vince Younger in 2005.
Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties ultimately zone, earlier than Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss. Ewers threw a third-down incompletion whereas being pressured by Sawyer on the play earlier than the defensive landing.
“He’s everything that we possibly ask for in a captain,” Day mentioned. “To make a play like that in that moment, we talked about before the game, if you want to leave a legacy behind, you become a legend. He just became a legend at Ohio State.”
Judkins had a 1-yard landing for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left. 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 was virtually a rating.
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 Large 12 championship two years in the past. He was 0-3 as a starter towards the Longhorns whereas at Okay-State, together with an time beyond regulation 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 closing time. It may need been his final play for the Longhorns since he may go into the NFL draft.
The Buckeyes went forward on their opening drive of the sport when Judkins scored on a 9-yard run. It seemed as if they might 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 move 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 8-yard keeper — his solely play within the recreation.
Proper after Texas’ first TD, Buckeyes operating again TreVeyon Henderson turned a brief move right into a 75-yard landing, following a wall of blockers earlier than capturing via an open hole and sprinting to the tip 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.