The game was within Texas' reach with about half of the fourth quarter left against Ohio State. Or, at least, tying it was within reach — until it suddenly wasn't. Trailing the Buckeyes by a touchdown in Friday's College Football Playoff semifinal game at

Despite rolling through wins over Tennessee and then Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Texas’ defense was able to put a lid on Ohio State’s explosive offense. After dominating performances in the first two rounds where the Buckeyes scored 42 and 41 points, the Longhorns’ defense showed up.

The Buckeyes defense stopped Texas near the goal line with less than three minutes to go as Jack Sawyer’s fumble return with 2:13 remaining gave the Buckeyes a 28-14 win over the Longhorns in Friday night’s Cotton Bowl. Sawyer stripped Quinn Ewers on fourth down and recovered the ball himself before officially running it 83 yards for the score.