No. 8 Ohio State (13-2) will face No. 7 Notre Dame (14-1) in the national championship after a dramatic 28-14 victory over No. 5 Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
With just under three minutes left in the game, the Buckeyes’ defense made a game-winning stand near the goal line as Jack Sawyer returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes to go in the game. Sawyer, stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers of the ball on a critical fourth-down play and then scooped up the ball for the score to give Ohio State a 28-14 lead.
“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, and I just thought, ‘I have to stay on my feet.’ Honestly, I almost blacked out when I saw all that green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said in a postgame interview.
No. 6 Notre Dame Beats No. 7 Penn State In Orange Bowl, Advances To CFP Title Game
Texas, which was down 21-14, had a golden opportunity to tie the game with the ball at the Ohio State 2-yard line after two pass interference penalties in the end zone gave the Longhorns a first-and-goal opportunity. However, the Buckeyes’ defense stood firm. Jerrick Gibson was stopped for no gain on a first-down run, and on second down, the defense snuffed out a pitch to Quintrevion Wisner for a 7-yard loss. A third-down pass from Ewers was tipped at the line, and Sawyer’s strip-sack on fourth down sealed the game.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Ohio State had taken a 21-14 lead when Quinshon Judkins scored his second touchdown of the night. The 13-play, 88-yard drive ate up nearly eight minutes, and a key fourth-down conversion by quarterback Will Howard kept the drive alive. Howard ran up the middle after Ohio State spread out Texas’ defense by placing all of its receivers to the right.
Texas had one final chance to mount a comeback, but that hope evaporated after Caleb Downs intercepted Ewers with 1:44 left in the game.
With the victory, Ohio State will now face Notre Dame in the national championship game on January 20 in Atlanta. The Fighting Irish defeated Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl Thursday night to advance. The two teams have met six times in history, with Ohio State winning every matchup, 6-0. Will this year be different?
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No. 6 Notre Dame Beats No. 7 Penn State In Orange Bowl, Advances To CFP Title Game
