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Photo Gallery: The Buckeyes carve their path to Atlanta with Cotton Bowl victory over Texas

January 11, 2025
Sandra Fu

Ohio State graduate quarterback Will Howard (18) and senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) watch the confetti fall after the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) exchange words onstage after the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State graduate quarterback Will Howard (18) embraces university President Ted Carter after the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State graduate quarterback Will Howard (18) and senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) exchange words on the stage after the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State junior cornerback Davison Igbinosun (1) leaps onto senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) after Sawyer's touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) scores a touchdown after recovering a fumble during the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) blows a kiss to the crowd after scoring a touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
The Ohio State sideline erupts as senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) recovers the fumble for an 82-yard touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) recovers the fumble by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers to make it 28-14, sealing the Buckeyes' national championship berth in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State junior running back Quinshon Judkins (1) scores a touchdown in the the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. Judkins scored two touchdowns as the Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State junior running back celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State junior running back Quinshon Judkins carries the ball during the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Texas junior quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) fumbles a ball after a sack by Ohio State senior defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Texas senior linebacker David Gbenda (33) intercepts a pass from Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State senior running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown in the dying seconds of the first half to make it 14-0 in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State senior cornerback Jordan Hancock (7) jumps over an opponent after successfully defending a reception in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State senior running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) dodges multiple tackles in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith arrives at AT&T Stadium ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
The Texas Longhorns enter the field before the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
The helmets of Ohio State and Texas are laid on the field before the College Football Playoff semifinal. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor

Over 70,000 fans — clad in either burnt orange or scarlet and gray — filled the seats of AT&T Stadium to watch No. 8 Ohio State play No. 4 Texas in Friday’s Cotton Bowl Classic.

The Buckeyes pulled ahead in the fourth quarter, thanks to a fumble return touchdown by defensive end Jack Sawyer. Notably, his 83-yard run broke the record for the longest scoop-and-score touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Ohio State went on to win 28-14.

With a national championship in their sights, the Buckeyes will face No. 5 Notre Dame in Atlanta Jan. 20.