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ARLINGTON, Texas — Jack Sawyer had already done the hard part. He’d gotten the ball out of Quinn Ewers’ hands, ending the threat of a Texas’ game-tying score in the game’s final moments. But then Sawyer picked up the loose football and started to run.
Eighty-three yards separated the Ohio State defensive end from the end zone, and he could barely think as he chugged along down the field. He said later that he blacked out a bit.
“I hit about the 30-yard line, and I looked back, I’m like, I hope I get some blockers — I’m running out of steam here,” Sawyer said. “They were running with me side-by-side. That speaks volumes to who this team is, too, you know. We always have each other’s back. It was a special moment.
“I love Columbus. I love the state of Ohio. I love Ohio State football.”
This was the kid who grew up in central Ohio, throwing passes to his dad in the backyard in a Buckeye jersey, dreaming of someday playing for a national championship in the scarlet and gray. And now he will. He knew that by the time he crossed that goal line and cemented his place in Ohio State history.
The Buckeyes are one game — just 60 minutes — away from that title after their 28-14 win over the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff national semifinals. Only Notre Dame stands in their way, a formidable foe that will line up against them with a national championship on the line in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
All those years ago, Sawyer was the first player to commit to then-new head coach Ryan Day. One year ago, he was the first draft-eligible player who decided to return to the Buckeyes to go all-in on the 2024-25 season. He wanted to beat Michigan. He wanted to win a Big Ten championship. He wanted to win a national title.
Two of those goals fell by the wayside on a very frustrating late November afternoon. Sawyer…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jack-sawyer-cements-status-ohio-072333336.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2025-01-11 07:23:00
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