A little over a year ago, while his great rival won a national championship in Houston, Ohio State landed a commitment from former SEC freshman Quinshon Judkins.
This may have seemed desperate to some at the moment, a way of trying to steal some shine from that of Michigan big moment, but what it really signaled was what Ohio State would look like for 2024.
Judkins, who had 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns in two seasons at Ole Mademoisellewas a costly addition as the Alabama native was one of the highest-paid running backs in the country in his second season with the Rebels.
And there were times this season when it was easy to wonder if Ohio State was getting its money’s worth from Judkins. His numbers were down — he rushed for fewer than 50 yards in six regular-season games for the Buckeyes — and looked more like an expensive accessory than a necessity.
However, when it mattered most Friday night, in a Cotton Bowl that was slipping out of Ohio State’s hands, Judkins was zooming past. Texas‘ strong defensive front to score the go-ahead touchdown and ultimately beat the Longhorns, 28-14.
A year and two days after committing to Ohio State the night Michigan won it all, Judkins helped send the Buckeyes back to a national championship. He finished with two touchdowns, his teammate TreVeyon Henderson added another on a 75-yard touchdown run and the Buckeyes travel to Atlanta to play No. 5 Notre Dame on January 20.
Ohio State’s $20 million roster, one of the most expensive in the college footballwas on display throughout a gutsy win over the Longhorns.
There was a quarterback Will Howardthe handpicked transfer Ryan Day wanted after nudging Kyle McCord eliminated, who broke through on an 18-yard run on a daring 4th-and-2 call late in the fourth quarter. Howard would have scored if he hadn’t been tripped, but it was enough to help set up Judkins’ touchdown four plays later. Howard had an interception but stayed calm when it mattered most and went 24 of 33 for 289 yards and a touchdown.
There was security Caleb Downswho joined the Buckeyes after Nick Saban retired exactly a year ago, who extinguished any long-shot comeback efforts Texas might have had with an interception with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Downs, the 2023 SEC Freshman, has been tremendous this season in Columbus, earning first-team all-Big Ten honors.
It wasn’t just about the players Ohio State added. These are the players who chose to say no to NFL and still one year left. Losses to Michigan and Missouri last season left a bitter taste for leaders like defensive end Henderson Jack Sawyer and the receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Sawyer delivered the play of the game into the Ohio State goal box that preserved the victory. Sawyer sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewershis former roommate at Ohio State, recovered the fumble and sprinted 83 yards for a touchdown. Ohio State’s emotional leader, the man who physically grabbed a Michigan flag to defend Ohio State territory after a loss to the Wolverines, wasn’t ending his college career without a chance at the title.
“From the outside, you would think the retention came from a lot of NIL dollars and it wasn’t as much as people might think,” said Cardale Jones, former Ohio State great and co -founder of the Foundation, at CBS Sports. “Those players like Emeka Egbuka, Jack Sawyer, JTT, a lot of those guys could have become potential top two or three draft picks last year, but they saw the ultimate goal.”
There were times when it seemed like Ohio State’s massive investment in 2024 would be for naught. A loss of route to Oregon injured, but it was the embarrassing home loss to Michigan that left many wondering if Ryan Day would survive long term in Columbus. In a 13-10 loss to Michigan, the roster looked less than the sum of its parts.
But Ohio State showed in this postseason that it was worth it. It hit Tennessee in a home playoff victory that silenced many of the Volunteers fans who traveled to Columbus. He jumped all over the No. 1 Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl, crushing a team that had made an equally large financial commitment to its roster.
Texas was the toughest battle yet and strategy Day, former athletic director Gene Smith and other OSU supporters coming together in the wake of a disappointing 2023 season made the difference. Veterans who refused NFL money to give back another year to the talented players who flocked to Columbus for a chance to win a title, Ohio State’s talent proved undeniable.
Day and his team took the pain of defeat and used it to leave no doubt in pursuit of the ultimate goal this season. Ohio State is now one win and 10 days away from the all-in plan, which began more than a year ago, providing the hardware so desperately desired.