Ohio State is headed to the national championship. The Buckeyes knocked off Texas, 28-14, in the Cotton Bowl to punch their ticket with Jack Sawyer making the game-seeling play with a scoop-and-score with the Longhorns having a chance to tie the game on fourth and goal.

Well, it wasn’t the smooth ride like the first two games were, but maybe a little more meaningful. After embarrassing Tennessee and Oregon, Ohio State found itself in a dogfight with Texas in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. A game the Buckeyes would ultimately win with late heroics.

Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins (1) runs against Texas defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.