Jack Sawyer cements his status as an Ohio State legend and sends the Buckeyes to the national title game

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jack Sawyer he’s already done the hard part. He ripped the ball out of Quinn Ewers’ hands, ending a Texas tying threat in the final moments of the game. But then Sawyer picked up the loose ball and started running.

Eighty-three yards separated the Ohio State defensive end from the end zone, and he could barely think as he raced down the field. He later said he fainted a bit.

“I hit it about 30 yards and looked back, hopefully I’d get some blockers — I’m running out of steam here,” Sawyer said. “They ran side by side with me. It also speaks volumes about who this team is, you know. We always take care of each other. It was a special moment.

“I love Columbus. I love Ohio State. 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 one day playing for a national championship in the scarlet and gray. And now he will. He knew it 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 a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff national semifinal. Standing in their way is only Notre Dame, a formidable foe who will face them with the national championship on the line in Atlanta on January 20th.

All those years ago, Sawyer was the first player to commit to the then-new head coach Ryan Day. A year ago, he was the first draft-eligible player to decide to return to the Buckeyes to go all-in for the 2024-25 season. He wanted to beat Michigan. He wanted to win a Big Ten championship. He wanted to win the national championship.

Two of those goals came from the side on a very frustrating late November afternoon. Sawyer was the one who ripped that flag out of the hands of the Michigan players when they tried to put it up in his home stadium. He loved his school and his teammates and his coaches too much to allow Block ‘M’ anywhere near midfield.

“I just love stories about guys who go through tough times, stay true, defend the people they love the most, and then come out on top. I just love that in life,” Day said. “How do you know someone’s character? When you go through hard times with them. Everything is easy when things are going well; anyone can be a leader.

“Our story has been – the last few years – it’s been up and down. But to see the team play the way they did in the fourth quarter (against Texas), I think that’s why it’s relevant. That’s why we’re talking about it. Because I don’t think if we hadn’t gone through those things we would have gone through the way we did in the fourth quarter.”

Ohio State is what it is today because of that embarrassing loss to Michigan in November. And a midseason loss to Oregon. And last year’s loss to Missouri here in the Cotton Bowl, too. That’s what Day stands for, and that’s why Sawyer fought so hard to make this season more than just a flag planter. So he was able to jump into his head coach’s arms as the final seconds ticked away Friday night, knowing that the next time they took the field together it would be playing for a national championship.

“He’s always wanted a moment like this,” Day said. “To see him get the moment he had today — I mean, he’s become like family to me.”

That’s right Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson. Lathan Ransom and Cody Simon. All these guys who suffered those painful losses at Michigan. That loss to Georgia on New Year’s Eve a few years ago. Every low that led to the current high.

“We talked before the game about how to leave a legacy. To become your own legend,” said Day. “There are some guys on this team today that I believe will become legends in Ohio State history. …

“But we have to finish this thing. And they know it.”