Quinshon Judkins ran for two touchdowns before Jack Sawyer forced a fumble by his former roommate that he returned 83 yards for a clinching TD as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night to advance to a shot for their sixth national title.
Led by Judkins and Sawyer, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the same stadium where 10 years ago they were champions in the debut of the College Football Playoff as a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the debut of the expanded 12-team field.
Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It could be quite a finish for the Buckeyes after they lost to rival Michigan on Nov. 30.
鈥淎bout a month ago, a lot of people counted us out. And these guys went to work, this team, these leaders, the captains, the staff,鈥� Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. 鈥淓verybody in the building believed. And because of that, I believe we won the game in the fourth quarter.鈥�
Sawyer got to Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball loose before scooping it up and lumbering all the way to the other end zone with 2:13 left. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history.
鈥淚 saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I鈥檝e 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,鈥� Sawyer, of Pickerington, said. 鈥淛ust walking off, he said, 鈥楽crew you,鈥� and started laughing. Obviously that鈥檚 my boy.鈥�
Paul Keels with the call of Jack Sawyer's legendary touchdown on The Fan (courtesy of Learfield)
— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan)
Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for one semester before the quarterback transferred home to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals, but next season will be their 20th since winning their last national title with Vince Young in 2005.
Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties in the end zone, before Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss. Ewers threw a third-down incompletion while being pressured by Sawyer on the play before the defensive touchdown.
鈥淗e鈥檚 everything that we possibly ask for in a captain,鈥� Day said. 鈥淭o 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.鈥�
Judkins had a 1-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left. That