No matter Ryan Day mentioned to his staff after shedding to Michigan clearly labored.
After calls to fireside 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 Traditional 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 sphere rapidly in response, largely partly to a 34-yard catch by Gunnar Helm. After back-to-back defensive cross interferences in the long run zone, the Longhorns had a contemporary set of downs on the objective 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 throughout the first quarter of the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal in opposition to the Texas Longhorns within the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos)
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 approach for a landing.
In what appeared to be like one other extra time sport for the Longhorns, their season flashed earlier than their eyes with the snap of a finger. In hopes of a miracle, Ewers threw a choose on their subsequent drive, and similar 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 have 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 Traditional throughout the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal sport at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photos)
Ohio State, although, was not. Proper 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 is reasonably straightforward to level on the two performs that price Texas their season, with hindsight being 20/20.
Each groups exchanged punts for a lot 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. However then got here the Buckeyes rating to make it 21-14.
Previous to the sport, it was revealed the Ewers mentioned he anticipated to be enjoying within the NFL subsequent season, so will probably be attention-grabbing 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 Traditional throughout the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal sport at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photos)
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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.
Identical to Ohio State, the Preventing Irish suffered an embarrassing lack of their very own this season, dropping a contest at house to Northern Illinois again in September. However, it has been 13 straight wins since then.
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