A late scoop and score by Ohio State catapults the Buckeyes to the national championship over Texas
Whatever Ryan Day told his team after losing to Michigan clearly worked.
After calls to fire their head coach after Thanksgiving for their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines — easily their worst — the Buckeyes are headed to the national championship after going 28-14 on Friday night Classic cotton bowl win over Texas.
After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left (on a drive that included a big 4th-down conversion), Texas responded quickly down the field, largely in part on a 34-yard catch by Gunnar Helm. After back-to-back defensive passes in the end zone, the Longhorns had another series of goal-line downs. It was only a matter of time before the game was tied, but then a nightmare happened for Texas.
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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after a play during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Pictures)
After being stuffed on the first down, Quintrevion Wisner lost seven yards on the second down, putting Texas in trouble. A third down pass fell incomplete, and on fourth down, Ewers lost a fumble that was forced and picked up by Jack Sawyer, who took it 82 yards to the other end for a touchdown.
In what felt like another overtime game for the Longhorns, their season flashed before their eyes with a snap of a finger. Hoping for a miracle, Ewers threw a pick on their next drive and it was over.
The Buckeyes got on the board first, scoring a touchdown right after stopping Texas on 4th down. The Longhorns’ offense was at a standstill during the first half, but they tied the game with 29 seconds left in the half and were ready to go to the locker room with the game tied at seven.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard catch-and-run against the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Ohio State, however, was not. Right after the touchback, Will Howard passed the ball to TreVeyon Henderson, who got a few blocks in front and raced 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead going into the locker room. It’s pretty easy to point to the two plays that cost Texas the season, on a 20/20 basis.
Both teams traded punts for most of the third quarter, but with just over three minutes remaining, Ewers found Jaydon Blue for his second touchdown of the night, tying the game. But then came the Buckeyes’ score to go up 21-14.
Before the game, it was revealed that Ewers said he expects to play in the NFL next season, so it will be interesting to see if his plans change.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) celebrates a sack of Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) in the first quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Now it will be the eighth ranked Buckeyes against them Notre Dame #7 January 20th – Score one for the expanded playoffs.
Just like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing loss this season, dropping a home contest at Northern Illinois in September. But since then there have been 13 consecutive victories.
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