1. Jack Sawyer's sack-fumble return for a touchdown against Texas in the Cotton Bowl
This ended up being the toughest game that the Buckeyes would play in this run to a title. Texas had proved to be one of the most talented teams in college football this season. The Longhorns were able to keep Smith under wraps, keeping him to just one catch for three yards.
At the end of the game, Texas was trying to have a game-tying drive with under three minutes left. With the Buckeyes being the best red-zone defense in the country, Texas wasn't able to score. Instead, the Buckeyes scored on the greatest play of the 2024 season.
Jack Sawyer sacked Quinn Ewers on fourth and 11, picked up the football, and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown. That gave the Buckeyes a 28-14 lead that they would not relinquish. It sent them to the National Championship Game against Notre Dame, which they obviously would win.
Sawyer was wreaking havoc on the Longhorns all game long. This play not only punctuated the Cotton Bowl but his Ohio State football career. It's a play that will have him remembered in Columbus forever. Beating Notre Dame sealed that fact.
It was a great run for this team. It's a national championship that will never be forgotten. Ohio State football fans need to cherish it and not look immediately to next season. Let's enjoy the moment!