Eric Boggs
The Ohio State Buckeyes are now one win away from securing a national championship, an accomplishment that has been years in the making. With a gritty 28-14 victory over the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, the Buckeyes earned their place in the national championship game against Notre Dame on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Ohio State’s path to this pivotal game was anything but easy. While previous CFP victories over Tennessee and Oregon were decisive, the semifinal against Texas required resilience and resolve. The Buckeyes stepped up when it mattered most, outscoring the Longhorns 14-0 in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Defensive end Jack Sawyer delivered the game’s defining moment—an 83-yard scoop-and-score off a forced fumble that sealed the game with just over two minutes left to play.
“The whole team really showed toughness in this game,” said head coach Ryan Day. “We knew it was going to be a battle. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but we knew it would come down to the fourth quarter. I’m just really proud of our team, our coaches, and everyone who helped us get here. We’re going to enjoy this win tonight, but only for one night because we have one more to go.”
The Buckeyes struck first, with a methodical 10-play, 64-yard drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown run from Quinshon Judkins. Ohio State’s defense set the tone early, forcing a turnover on downs during Texas’s opening drive and pressuring Longhorn quarterback Quinn Ewers throughout the night. J.T. Tuimoloau’s two sacks on Texas’s second possession were emblematic of the defensive dominance that would define the game.
However, the Longhorns responded late in the second quarter with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Jaydon Blue. Just when it seemed the teams would head to halftime tied at 7-7, TreVeyon Henderson flipped the script. The electrifying running back took a screen pass 75 yards to the end zone, restoring Ohio State’s lead at 14-7 and giving the Buckeyes a critical momentum boost.
The second half began with a hiccup for Ohio State as Will Howard’s pass was intercepted by Texas linebacker David Gbenda. Yet the Buckeye defense held firm, forcing a punt after allowing just one first down. Texas eventually capitalized on its opportunities, tying the game at 14-14 late in the third quarter on another touchdown by Blue.
With the game hanging in the balance, Ohio State took control in the final quarter. Howard orchestrated a masterful 88-yard drive that consumed nearly eight minutes of clock and ended with Judkins’s second touchdown run of the game. A critical 4th-and-2 scramble by Howard—an 18-yard run—kept the drive alive and showcased his poise under pressure.
Texas appeared poised to respond, driving deep into Ohio State territory, but Sawyer’s game-changing play dashed their hopes. His strip sack of Ewers on 4th-and-goal and subsequent return for a touchdown was the decisive moment Buckeye fans will remember for years to come. Caleb Downs’s interception on Texas’s next possession put the final nail in the coffin.
“I can’t say enough about Jack Sawyer,” said Day. “He’s everything we could possibly ask for in a captain. To make a play like that in that moment solidifies his legacy as an Ohio State legend.”
Ohio State’s journey to the title game has been a testament to resilience. After a tough regular-season loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes entered the playoff as the No. 8 seed. They responded with a commanding 42-17 victory over Tennessee in the first round and avenged their earlier defeat to Oregon with a 41-21 win in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Now, at 13-2, the Buckeyes are poised to cap off an incredible season with a national championship.
Notre Dame, the No. 7 seed, awaits in the championship game. Like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish have defied expectations to reach this stage. The clash on January 20 promises to be a battle of two storied programs, each hungry to claim the ultimate prize.
For Ohio State fans, the anticipation is palpable. The Buckeyes have proven their mettle on the biggest stages, and their defense, led by stars like Sawyer and Tuimoloau, has been the backbone of this playoff run. Howard’s steady hand at quarterback and the explosive playmaking of Henderson and Judkins provide the offensive firepower needed to finish the job.
“The resiliency of this team has been incredible,” said Sawyer. “Last year, we left this stadium with a bitter taste in our mouths. This year, we’re heading to the national championship. That’s what it means to fight for your brothers and represent Buckeye Nation.”
On January 20, Ohio State will have the opportunity to etch its name in history once again. For now, Buckeye fans can savor the hard-fought victory in Dallas and dream of what lies ahead. Go Bucks!
