Ohio State's Jack Sawyer: 'I Almost Blacked Out' During Fumble Return TD vs. Texas
January 11, 2025
Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer almost had no idea what was going on during his 83-yard fumble return touchdown late in the fourth quarter that sealed a 28-14 win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Sawyer said "I almost blacked out" as he was running up the sidelines with nothing but green grass in front him.
Texas was threatening to tie the score at 21 after getting down to the Ohio State one-yard line. The Longhorns got pushed back seven yards on a toss play to Quintrevion Wisner on second down.
After an incomplete pass on third down, Texas had one more play to get in the end zone. Sawyer quickly got around the right tackle and knocked the ball out of Quinn Ewers' hand, scooped it up and took it to the house.
The play effectively ended what had been a back-and-forth battle between arguably the two best teams still remaining in the playoff. Ohio State led by seven points on three different occasions in the game, but Texas came back to tie the score the first two times.
It looked like the Buckeyes were going to roll in this game like they had in the previous two rounds of the playoff out of the gate. They went 64 yards on their opening drive, capped off by Quinshon Judkins' touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Texas' defense settled in after that, forcing four punts on Ohio State's next four drives. Every time the Longhorns scored, though, the Buckeyes almost immediately came back to take the lead.
The last three possessions of the game, excluding Ohio State's final drive when it was running out the clock, ended with a touchdown for the Buckeyes, Sawyer's touchdown and Caleb Downs intercepting Ewers.
Sawyer's heroic moment will send Ohio State to the College Football Playoff Championship Game. The Buckeyes will take on Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 20.
