Ohio State Defeats Texas 28-14 in Cotton Bowl, Advances to CFP Title Game

Ohio State secured a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship with a 28-14 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. The Buckeyes, led by defensive end Jack Sawyer and running back Quinshon Judkins, overcame a resilient Texas team to advance to their sixth CFP title game.

Sawyer delivered the game-clinching play, stripping Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and returning the fumble 83 yards for a touchdown with 2:13 remaining. The score sealed the win for Ohio State and marked the longest fumble return in CFP history. “I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him,” Sawyer said. “I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me.”

Judkins, a transfer from Mississippi, rushed for two touchdowns, including a 1-yard score that gave the Buckeyes a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left in the game. Quarterback Will Howard also played a pivotal role, completing 24 of 33 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown. Howard’s 18-yard run on fourth-and-2 kept a crucial drive alive, setting up Judkins’ go-ahead score.

Texas, making its second consecutive CFP semifinal appearance, struggled to capitalize on key opportunities. Ewers, who finished 23 of 39 for 283 yards and two touchdowns, was unable to overcome Ohio State’s defense in critical moments. The Longhorns’ hopes of a comeback were dashed when Sawyer’s fumble return extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 28-14.

Ohio State will now face the Orange Bowl champion in the CFP National Championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta. The Buckeyes are seeking their sixth AP national title and first since the 2014 season, when they won the inaugural CFP championship in the same AT&T Stadium where Friday’s victory took place.

Texas, meanwhile, will look to regroup after falling short of its first national title since 2005. The Longhorns will face Ohio State again in the 2025 season opener, a highly anticipated rematch set for Aug. 30 at Ohio Stadium.