Ohio State defensive winger Jack Sawyer had an 83-yard fumble for a touchdown to seal the Buckeyes’ 28-14 victory Texas Friday evening in the College football Playoff semifinals. Sawyer hit Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers before he can throw before scooping up the bouncing football and tucking it in for a tiebreaking play in a hotly contested Cotton Bowl.
The stakes couldn’t have been higher as Ewers dropped back to pass on fourth-and-goal from the Ohio State 8-yard line. Texas was in the middle of an impressive drive after an Ohio State touchdown, and a Longhorns touchdown would have put the pressure back on the Buckeyes.
What adds to the intrigue is that Sawyer and Ewers were roommates when Ewers was a true freshman at Ohio State in 2021. The play was a career-defining moment for Sawyer, who opted to return for his senior season in 2024 despite the fact that he probably could have been a first-round selection in the NFL Draft.
Sawyer entered with five career forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including a scoop and a score against Purdue earlier this season. His return against the Longhorns was the longest fumble return in CFP history.