What Ryan Day told his team after the loss to Michigan clearly had an effect.
A four-game losing streak against the Wolverines (arguably the worst) led to calls for the head coach to be fired after Thanksgiving, but the Buckeyes defeated Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night. He then headed to the U.S. Championships.
After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left (on a drive that included a fourth down conversion), Texas quickly got on the field, mainly due to a 34-yard catch by Gunnar Helm. I reacted by stepping back. After consecutive defensive pass interferences in the end zone, the Longhorns got another down at the goal line. It was only a matter of time before the score was tied, but then the nightmare happened for Texas.
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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer, 33, celebrates after a play during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron-Iman Images)
After getting stuck on first down, Quintrevion Wisner lost seven yards on a second down toss, putting Texas in trouble. A third down pass fell incomplete, and on fourth down, Ewers lost a fumble that Jack Sawyer picked up and ran 82 yards for a touchdown.
It looked like another overtime game for the Longhorns, but with a snap of their fingers, their season flashed before their eyes. Hoping for a miracle, Ewers threw a pick on the next drive, and just like that, it all ended.
The Buckeyes went out first and scored a touchdown right after stopping Texas on fourth down. The Longhorns' offense was stagnant throughout the first half, but they tied the game with 29 seconds left in the first half and were ready to go to the locker room with 7 to go.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Treveillon Henderson, 32, has a 75-yard touch during the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in January. He scored a touchdown on a down catch and run. , October 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
But that wasn't the case with Ohio State. Immediately after the touchback, Will Howard threw a pass to Treveyon Henderson, who got a block up front and raced 75 yards to the house, with the Buckeyes leading 14-7 going into the locker room. In hindsight, it's 20/20 and it's rather easy to point to the two plays that cost the Texans their season.
Both teams traded punts for much of the third quarter, but with just over three minutes remaining, Ewers scored his second touchdown of the night on Jadon Blue, tying the game. But then the Buckeyes scored to make it 21-14.
It was revealed before the game that Ewers said he intended to play in the NFL next season, so it will be interesting to see if his plans change.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimorow, 44, of Texas, during the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on January 10. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrates his sack. 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Now, the No. 8 seed Buckeyes and No. 7 seed Notre Dame will face off on January 20th to earn a point heading into the expansion playoffs.
Like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish have had some embarrassing losses this season, losing at home to Northern Illinois in September. However, he has won 13 consecutive games since then.
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