Late in the fourth quarter, Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer scored an 83-yard fumble return touchdown to seal a 28-14 victory over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Sawyer hardly realized what was happening.
After the game, Sawyer told reporters, “I almost blacked out” when sprinting toward the sidelines with just green grass in front of him.
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
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers had one chance to redeem himself on fourth-and-goal at Ohio State‘s eight-yard line with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Jack Sawyer, a defensive end for the Buckeyes, had different ideas.
The Buckeyes won because Sawyer not only sacked Ewers but also stripped the ball, picked it up, and raced it back for an 83-yard score. According to ESPN’s broadcast, the play was the longest scoop-and-score in College Football Playoff (CFP) history.
The conclusion was devastating for Texas supporters, but for Sawyer, it was a turning point in his career that won him Cotton Bowl MVP.
