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ARLINGTON, Texas — A memorable moment for Ohio State was highlighted by a crucial play from defensive end Jack Sawyer in the Cotton Bowl, marking a significant victory that propels the Buckeyes into another national championship opportunity.
The Buckeyes ended the previous season on a sour note with a defeat against Missouri in the same bowl, which was part of the College Football Playoff as a semifinal. They were still reeling from a loss to Michigan that dashed their dreams of capturing both the Big Ten and national titles after an undefeated run.
This season witnessed an even tougher loss to Michigan, who entered the matchup unranked and with considerable underdog status, finishing the year as the reigning champions. Tensions escalated to a brawl at midfield when Michigan players attempted to plant their flag on the Ohio Stadium logo, resulting in a chaotic scene requiring police intervention with pepper spray.
“There was a lot of reflection that I went into after that game, and we had to look in at ourselves and really make a decision like if we’re gonna do this, we gotta do it right,” linebacker Cody Simon shared. “We came together as a team, and I’m grateful we did because of the strong connections we’ve forged during this process.”
Sawyer was involved in the initial fracas, grabbing the Wolverines’ flag and tearing it off the pole as the confrontation erupted. In the Cotton Bowl victory on Friday night, he further elevated his standing by forcing a fumble from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his former roommate — and returning it 83 yards for a decisive touchdown with just over two minutes to play.
With a record of 13-2 and after missing the Big Ten title game, Ohio State now looks ahead to its chance for a sixth AP national championship as they take on Notre Dame (14-1) on January 20 in Atlanta. Only Notre Dame, with eight championships, Alabama (12), and Oklahoma (seven) have earned more AP titles than the Buckeyes.
“Bringing that back to Columbus has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid playing football in the backyard wearing an Ohio State jersey,” Sawyer remarked, reflecting on his close ties to the university. “I was lucky to make a significant play at an important moment.”
Ohio State’s last national title came a decade ago when they claimed victory in the inaugural College Football Playoff as the No. 4 seed. This year, they entered the expanded 12-team playoff as the eighth seed, achieving wins over Tennessee in the first round and defeating undefeated Big Ten champion Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.
“Not finished, though,” coach Ryan Day stated, expressing a sense of optimism following the Cotton Bowl victory. “It’s not over yet. It’s incredible how much difference a year makes, but we still have more to accomplish.”
“Solemnly agree with that,” Sawyer added in affirmation.
ANTICIPATION OF FACING NOTRE DAME
Ohio State holds a storied rivalry with Notre Dame, having not lost to them since 1936.
In only six matchups since 1995, the Buckeyes have claimed victory in each encounter, including regular-season games in 2022 and 2023 that featured many of their current upperclassmen.
“It’ll definitely play a role, but they’ve evolved as a team,” Simon acknowledged. “It’s going to be quite a challenge.”
Additionally, Ohio State bested Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl at the conclusion of the 2005 and 2015 seasons and faced them in a home-and-home series back in 1995 and 1996.
MORE THAN JUST A FRESHMAN STAR
During the Cotton Bowl, Will Howard amassed 289 passing yards, despite the attention on standout freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who was closely guarded by the Longhorns.
After outstanding performances earlier in the playoffs, where Smith registered 13 receptions for 290 yards and four touchdowns, he was limited to just one catch for three yards in the semifinal game.
“We anticipated they’d target him heavily. They definitely made adjustments to contain him,” Howard explained. “So we had to be smart and distribute the ball to other receivers.”
Carnell Tate achieved a personal best with seven catches for 87 yards, while senior Emeka Egbuka contributed five receptions for 51 yards. A pivotal moment came with a 75-yard screen pass to running back TreVeyon Henderson, which scored right after Texas had equalized just before halftime.
“Sometimes guys wonder why we rarely run screens,” Day remarked, humorously reflecting on the strategy. “I even told the staff we might as well stop practicing screens since we don’t call them often.”
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