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Ohio State

Jack Sawyer roasts Will Howard for falling in open field vs. Texas in Cotton Bowl

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•about 10 hours
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(© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer made the play of a lifetime on Friday night in the Cotton Bowl. He helped to lift the Buckeyes to a CFP Semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns and in the process, punched their tickets to the National Championship Game.

Sawyer had an 83-yard scoop and score that proved to the dagger on Friday night. OSU quarterback Will Howard stumbled in the open field earlier in the game, and Sawyer made sure to remind him of it in the postgame.

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Ohio State prevailed 28-14 in the end, and following the thrilling victory, Sawyer spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe about the play that will forever cement him in Buckeye lore. What did the scoop and score mean to him?

Jack Sawyer on the legendary scoop and score

“This means everything to me. God’s blessed this team with so much talent. I kind of blacked out when I ran over. And I picked it up. Coach put us in a great position. Yeah, I mean, I was just put in a good position by the coaches and I saw the ball pop right to me after I tackled him. I was just thinking I gotta keep staying on my feet because like I said I almost blacked out when I saw nothing but green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said on the field of AT&T Stadium.

Quinn Ewers and Jack Sawyer were actually roommates together at Ohio State. What did the Texas quarterback have to say to Sawyer as he was walking off the field?

“He said, ‘Screw you’ and started laughing. You know, that’s my boy. Obviously, we were roommates when he was here. Got a lot of respect for him and the rest of the Texas team. That’s a great team. They took it four quarters. And you know, they had a great season, so I’m happy for them, too,” Sawyer explained.

How was the team able to regroup after the Michigan loss and play for the 2025 National Championship?

“You know, we just stayed collectively together. Through the hard times. You know, we leaned all in on our faith in each other. And the coaches. We knew we had to fix some things and we did just that after the game in November. And you see the results right now. Getting back to work, cutting out all the negative stuff, and just going full speed ahead of what’s in front of us,” Sawyer explained.

He’ll be a Buckeye legend for life. How does that sound?

“I just want to win a national championship,” Sawyer finished. He was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Cotton Bowl. His 83-yard fumble returned for touchdown is the longest in Ohio State program history.

Ohio State and Notre Dame will square off in the 2025 CFP National Championship Game. That one is slated for January 20th. Kick time is set for 7:30 PM EST and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.