Whatever Ryan Day stated to his group after shedding to Michigan clearly labored.
After calls to fireplace their head coach after Thanksgiving due to their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines – and this one simply the worst – the Buckeyes are off to the nationwide championship after Friday night time’s 28-14 Cotton Bowl Classic win over Texas.
After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 to go (on a drive that included an enormous 4th down conversion), Texas acquired down the sector rapidly in response, largely partly to a 34-yard catch by Gunnar Helm. After back-to-back defensive cross interferences ultimately zone, the Longhorns had a recent set of downs on the aim line. It was a matter of time earlier than the sport was tied, however then, a nightmare occurred for Texas.
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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive finish Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after a play through the first quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal in opposition to the Texas Longhorns within the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
After getting stuffed on first down, Quintrevion Wisner misplaced seven yards on a second-down toss, placing Texas in hassle. The third down cross fell incomplete, and on fourth down, Ewers misplaced a fumble that was compelled, and picked up, by Jack Sawyer, who took it 82 yards the opposite means for a landing.
In what appeared to be like one other additional time recreation for the Longhorns, their season flashed earlier than their eyes with the snap of a finger. In hopes of a miracle, Ewers threw a decide on their subsequent drive, and identical to that, it was throughout.
The Buckeyes acquired on the board first, scoring a landing proper after stopping Texas on 4th down. The Longhorns offense was stalled all through the primary half, however they tied the sport with 29 seconds left within the half, and had been prepared to enter the locker room with the sport knotted at seven.
Ohio State Buckeyes working again TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a landing on a 75-yard landing catch and run in opposition to Texas Longhorns within the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic through the College Football Playoff semifinal recreation at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Images)
Ohio State, although, was not. Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a cross off to TreVeyon Henderson, who acquired some blocks up entrance and scampered 75 yards to the home, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room. It’s quite straightforward to level on the two performs that value Texas their season, with hindsight being 20/20.
Both groups exchanged punts for many of the third quarter, however with simply over three minutes to go, Ewers discovered Jaydon Blue for his or her second landing connection of the night time, tying the sport. But then got here the Buckeyes rating to make it 21-14.
Prior to the sport, it was revealed the Ewers stated he anticipated to be taking part in within the NFL subsequent season, so it will likely be fascinating to see if his plans change.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive finish JT Tuimoloau (44) celebrates a sack of Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) within the first quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic through the College Football Playoff semifinal recreation at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Images)
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Now, it’s going to be the eighth-seeded Buckeyes in opposition to No. 7 Notre Dame on Jan. 20 – rating one for the expanded playoff.
Just like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing lack of their very own this season, dropping a contest at dwelling to Northern Illinois again in September. But, it has been 13 straight wins since then.
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