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Anything Ryan Day told his team after the loss to Michigan obviously 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 a 28-14 Friday night loss Cotton Bowl Classic victory over Texas.
After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left (on a drive that included a huge 4th down conversion), Texas quickly came back down the field, thanks in part to Gunnar Helm’s 34-yard catch . After back-to-back defensive pass interference in the end zone, the Longhorns got a new set 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 quarterback Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after a game in the first quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. (Images by Jerome Miron-Iman)
After Quintrevion Wiesner was sacked on the first down, he lost seven yards on the second down to put Texas in trouble. The third down pass was incomplete, and on fourth down, Ewers lost a fumble that was forced and picked up by Jack Sawyer, who ran 82 yards the other way for a touchdown.
In what appeared to be another overtime game for the Longhorns, their season flashed before their eyes with the snap of a finger. Hoping for a miracle, Ewers dropped the pick on the next trip 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 stalled throughout 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 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, on January , 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Ohio State, however, was not. Immediately after the touchback, Will Howard threw a pass to Treveyon Henderson, who got a few blocks ahead and raced 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead in the locker room. With hindsight being 20/20, it’s pretty easy to point to the two plays that cost Texas their season.
The two teams traded punts for most of the third quarter, but with just over three minutes left, Ewers found Jaydon Blue for his second touchdown of the night, tying the score. But then came a Buckeyes score to make it 21-14.
It was reported before the game 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 quarterback JT Tuimoloau (44) celebrates for a loss against 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, Jan. 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Now facing the Buckeyes, seeded eighth Notre Dame January 20 – One goal for extended playoffs.
Just like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing loss of their own this season, dropping a contest at home to Northern Illinois in September. But since then there have been 13 wins in a row.
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