College Football

College Football Fans React To Jack Sawyer, Ohio State Sacking Texas In Cotton Bowl, Advancing To CFP Final

Author photo
By
Jeff Hawkins
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on Get to know Jeff Hawkins better

Sports Editor

Published10 Jan 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.

During Friday night’s telecast of the Cotton Bowl, former Ohio State quarterback-turned-college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit called linebacker Jack Sawyer’s fourth-quarter sack-turned-scoop-and-score one of the top four plays the program has experienced since the 1970s. 

With Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers dropping back to on a fourth-and-goal snap from the eight-yard line, Sawyer sacked his former freshman roommate, and returned the fumble 81 yards for a touchdown, clinching a 28-14 victory in a CFP semifinal matchup at AT&T Stadium. 

The play also helped propel the Buckeyes to the CFP championship game appearance versus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 20 in Atlanta. 

Sawyer, the first recruit of the Ryan Day era, wasn’t the only big winner for the Buckeyes. Transfer quarterback Will Howard entered Friday 0-3 versus the Longhorns. After Sawyer’s fumble return, Herbstreit commented on the emotion the usual-even-keeled Howard showed celebrating on the sideline. Howard, who suffered a first-half injury, but returned to finish the game, outdueled Ewers, who transferred from Ohio State in 2021.

X (Twitter) s reacted to one of the Buckeyes’ all-time most memorable goal-line stands …

 The Longhorns enjoyed a Texas-sized entry … 

The Buckeyes entered AT&T Stadium with attitude …  

 Ewers greeted former Buckeyes teammates during pre-game warm-ups …   

The Buckeyes started fast again. Capped by Quinshon Judkins’ 9-yard touchdown run, the Buckeyes completed a 10-play, 64-yard game-opening drive … 

Dropped es and missed opportunities haunted Texas throughout the first half, lowlighted by this drop by senior tight end Gunnar Helm … 

And this bungled attempt at a reception by Isaiah Bond. Why did the junior wide receiver jump? … 

Texas finally avoided mistakes and scored with 29 seconds remaining in the first half on Ewers’ 18-yard to running back Jaydon Blue …  

One play later, Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson caught a short and turned it into a 75-yard TD … 

Before the drive, the Longhorns were 0-for-7 on third-down conversions. Then, Ewers connected on an improvisational third-down for a first down to Quintrevion Wisner. Nine plays later, Ewers hit Blue for TD No. 2, tying the game at 14-all. The Longhorns were 4-for-4 on third down during the 12-play drive …

Judkins scored his second TD on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, proving to be the winning score with 7:45 remaining … 

Sawyer, criticized for being a poor sport during the regular-season-ending loss to visiting Michigan, planted an “L” on the Longhorns. Howard was jacked up … 

 Final score: Ohio State 28, Texas 14 … 

The national championship is set … 

Related

College Football
Jeff Hawkins  •  01 Jan 2025
Sports
Jeff Hawkins  •  07 Dec 2024
NCAA
John Moriello  •  04 Dec 2020
College Football
Jeff Hawkins  •  31 Dec 2024

Tags

Author photo
Jeff Hawkins
Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on Get to know Jeff Hawkins better

Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on All posts by Jeff Hawkins