When a life-changing moment happens, a person may not even realize it as it’s happening. Sometimes, though, its gravity hits immediately.
Such was the case on Friday night when Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs was caught on camera reacting to his teammate, defensive end Jack Sawyer, come away with a timely 83-yard scoop-and-score touchdown to ice the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Sawyer’s strip-sack return for a touchdown extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 28-14. Moments before that, Ohio State had their backs up against the wall, seemingly at the mercy of Texas Longhorns‘ offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback led on a 10-play drive and at one point, Texas had the ball at their opponents’ 1-yard line.
On 1st & goal, running back Jerrick Gibson was stuffed for no gain. On 2nd down, Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a seven-yard loss. On 3rd & goal, Ewers tossed an incompletion.
With the game on the line, on 4th & goal from Ohio State’s 8-yard line, Ewers was sacked and fumbled the ball away almost immediately by Sawyer, his former roommate, while the quarterback was with the Buckeyes in 2021.
Buckeyes DB Caleb Downs
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As Sawyer ran it 83 yards for the touchdown, Downs could be seen watching it all, taking it in and having his moment. A few minutes later, the safety would collect a game-sealing interception from Ewers.
The Buckeyes would run out the clock, winning the game 28-14.
Buckeyes DB Caleb Downs
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic win puts No. 8 seed Ohio State in the CFP championship game against No. 7 Notre Dame on January 20. The Buckeyes opened as 9.5-point favorites per ESPN BET.
The sophomore defensive back is in his first year with Ohio State after a freshman season with Alabama. In January 2024, Downs committed to Ohio State.
