Quinshon Judkins threw for two touchdowns before forcing a fumble by his former roommate that Jack Sawyer returned 83 yards for a score with 2:13 left as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. Sixth national title.
The Buckeyes (13-2) earned a semifinal victory in the same stadium where they were champions in their College Football Playoff debut in a four-team format 10 years ago. Now they have a chance to win again in the debut of the expanded 12-team field.
Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Sawyer met Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers on fourth-and-goal from the eight, knocked the ball loose, scooped it up and ambled to the other end. It was the longest fumble comeback in CFP history.
Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for a semester before the quarterback transferred home to Texas and helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to back-to-back CFP semifinals. But next season will be his 20th since winning his last national title with Vince Young in 2005.
Texas came out on top with two pass interference penalties in the end zone before Quintrevion Wisner was sacked for a 7-yard loss.
Judkins ran a 1-yard touchdown run for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left. That score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard converted a fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with an 18-yard snag that nearly resulted in a score.
Howard was 24 of 33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Ewers finished 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back the last time.
The Associated Press reported.
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