It was Jack Sawyer, Quinn Ewers’ former roommate at OSU, who delivered the final nail in the coffin of Texas’ championship hopes. On Friday, in a game filled with tension and drama against the backdrop of the shared history between the two college stars, it was Sawyers who came up with the game-winning play that cements his legend in Buckeyes folklore. Ewers had a word or two to say to Sawyer after the play. as the OSU defensive end also shared his admiration for the Texas QB, but for now, he is celebrating in style.

With just 2:24 left on the clock, Texas had 4th-and-goal and was trailing by a score. Ryan Day needed someone to step up big time from his defense and Sawyer answered the call. In a poetic twist of fate, Sawyer sacked Ewers in the game’s closing moments, forcing a fumble that he scooped up and returned a staggering 83 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history. 28-14 to the Buckeyes and it stayed that way till the end.

The strip-sack and scoop-and-score highlight reel moment will be remembered by the OSU fans for years to come. And Sawyer made sure of that dripping new apparel to commemorate the moment courtesy of the NIL Store.

OSU fans, it’s time to get your hands on Sawyer’s “Scoop N’ Score” merchandise. The “Scoop ‘N Score” apparel drop, announced by the NIL Store, includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies, all celebrating Sawyer’s incredible play. Fans can snag these items at a 20% discount through the weekend.

The NIL Store isn’t just a small-time operation—it’s a major player in the industry, representing over 18,000 athletes, including stars like Cooper Flagg and Paige Bueckers. With Sawyer’s growing popularity, his draft stock is also on the rise. Experts are now predicting he could be a late first-round or second-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

In the Cotton Bowl, Sawyer didn’t just rely on that one play. He also recorded three tackles and two pass breakups, solidifying his status as a game-changer. But it is his strip sack against his former roommate that has got everyone talking. Speaking about the play, Sawyer said, “I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, 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.”

Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for one semester in 2o21 before the quarterback transferred home to Texas. After the game, Sawyer also revealed Ewers’s message to him on the field after the decisive play.

“He said, ‘Screw you,’ and walked off laughing,” Sawyers said in the post-game on-field interview. The DE also had words of appreciation for Ewers later.

“I just said great season. He’s a good guy. He’s a great dude. He was my roommate here. He’s had a lot of success, and he’s a great person. I just told him ‘Keep your head up. You played a great game and have a great future ahead of you. Stay in touch sometime soon.’” Ewers completed 23 of 39 passes for 283 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for the Longhorns.

Ohio didn’t make it easy for themselves. Two pass interference penalties meant Texas was 3 feet from a game-tying score. On the first down, OSU held the line. Quintrevion Wisner lost seven yards on a second-down toss as the pressure began to mount. Then a third-down pass fell incomplete as the tension was palpable.

Then Quinn Ewers, feeling the entire weight of Texas on his shoulders, had to make perhaps the most important pass of his career. But Sawyer made sure he never got to do it. Even his coach couldn’t help but praise what he saw.

Sawyer was Ryan Day’s first recruit at Ohio State and was named the captain this year. And boy did he come clutch.

“To make a play like that in that moment—and we talked about it before the game, do you want to leave a legacy behind and become a legend? He just became a legend at Ohio State.” With OSU eyeing a sixth national title, will the LEGEND give us another wild moment soon?

The OSU head coach is all set for the final big test

Next up for Ohio State is a showdown with Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship on January 20. The game promises to be a clash of titans, with Ohio State’s top-ranked defense facing off against Notre Dame’s formidable unit.

The Fighting Irish are no strangers to defensive excellence, ranking third in turnover differential and ninth in fewest yards allowed. But Ohio State leads the nation in both points and yards allowed, and with Sawyer in peak form, the Buckeyes are primed for another big moment.

Coach Ryan Day knows the stakes. He simply said, “You have to go through adversity along the way, and how you handle adversity is how you define life.” For the Buckeyes, this season has been a masterclass in resilience. With Sawyer leading the charge and the team riding high after their Cotton Bowl triumph, Ohio State is positioned to make history. Will the Buckeyes clinch the title and cap off a season to remember? Or will Notre Dame’s defense prove too tough to crack?

Well, Sawyer’s name is already etched in Buckeye lore. Whether it’s through his game-changing plays or his NIL-inspired “Scoop ‘N Score” merch, he’s leaving a legacy both on and off the field. As Ohio State gears up for its final test, fans can only hope the Buckeyes’ joy continues—and that Sawyer keeps making bold moves, one play at a time.