Watch: Jack Sawyer propels Ohio State to national title game

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) returns a fumble for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Watch: Jack Sawyer scoop-and-score propels Ohio State to first national title game appearance since 2020

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Jan 10, 2025 11:24 PM ET

Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer returned to Columbus for moments like Friday night at the Cotton Bowl.

Sawyer scored a game-sealing touchdown on an 83-yard fumble return late in the fourth quarter.

"I almost blacked out," Sawyer told ESPN's Holly Rowe afterward.

Texas drove to the Ohio State 8-yard line when it faced a fourth-and-goal down seven, 21-14. Sawyer pursued Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, stripped the ball from behind, picked it up and sprinted the other way to give Ohio State its decisive 28-14 lead with 2:13 remaining.

JACK SAWYER SCOOP-AND-SCORE

Ohio State is one step closer to advancing to the national championship! pic.twitter.com/BPoV5FBRGZ
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025

Sawyer is one of several upperclassmen who returned to Ohio State for a chance to win a national championship. On Jan. 5, 2024, he announced his plans to return for his senior year with a simple "I'm back" posted to social media.

I’m back. #ReloadtheClip pic.twitter.com/71X2z5dtnc
— Jack Sawyer (@jacksawyer33) January 5, 2024

Entering Friday's semifinal, Sawyer had eight sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown in 14 games this season.

ESPN color commentator Kirk Herbstreit, an Ohio State alum, declared Sawyer's scoop-and-score against Texas as one of the "top three or four" in Buckeyes program history.

It will seal its place as one of Ohio State's signature plays if the Buckeyes win their eighth national title — and first since 2014 — on Monday, Jan. 20 against Notre Dame (14-1), which beat Penn State, 27-24, in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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