A late defensive touchdown sealed Ohio State’s win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl, sending the Buckeyes on to the national title game against Notre Dame. Here are 5 key takeaways from the game.
JT and Jack Tear Up Texas
The Buckeyes’ JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer make up a devastating pass-rush duo, and they dominated the Longhorns offensive line all night long. The pair combined for 2.5 sacks, including the strip sack that turned into Sawyer’s 83-yard, game-sealing touchdown.
Ohio State Overcomes Early Errors
The Buckeyes dominated Oregon in the first half of their previous game, but it was a struggle to even operate the offense in the first half against Texas. Ohio State was consistently shooting themselves in the foot, with nine total penalties in the game, but they managed to pull it together in the second half and take the win.
Ewers Struggles to Stay Upright
Texas QB Quinn Ewers had a long night against the dogged Ohio State defensive line. He was sacked four times and often had to rush his decisions due to the pressure the Buckeyes put on him. Ewers threw two TDs but also had two turnovers.
Henderson’s Game-Changing House Call
With just 14 seconds left in the first half, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson produced a game-changing play. Henderson escaped a fierce Longhorns blitz and took a screen pass 75 yards to the end zone. The play gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 halftime lead and momentum in the game.
Blue A Bright Spot for Texas
Despite the loss, Texas had a big bright spot on offense in running back Jaydon Blue. While he only picked up 16 rushing yards on 4 carries, he was the Longhorns’ leading receiver with 5 catches for 59 yards and two scores.