title: Ohio State Rallies Past Texas to Reach College Football Playoff National Championship Game

output: No. 5 Texas and No. 8 Ohio State will meet in the College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl semifinal on Friday to determine who will face No. 7 Notre Dame in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

At the end of a hard-fought four quarters, the Buckeyes emerged victorious and in position to win their first national championship in a decade.

In a game where freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was largely a non-factor vs. the Longhorns, multiple players stepped up in the Cotton Bowl. Quarterback Will Howard completed 24 of 33 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown to one interception, while running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins combined for 15 carries, 78 yards and two touchdowns from Judkins. Henderson also had a go-ahead 75-yard touchdown reception right before the end of the second quarter.

But perhaps no player had a bigger impact than Jack Sawyer, whose strip-sack and fumble recovery for touchdown all but iced the game for the Buckeyes after they allowed the Longhorns to go all the way down to the 1-yard line with a chance to tie the game late.

With that, follow along for scores, updates and highlights of Friday's CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal between Ohio State and Texas:

Ohio State vs Texas score updates

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Ohio State vs Texas Cotton Bowl updates

This section has been updated with new information

Final: Ohio State 28, Texas 14

Ohio State heading to the CFP championship

That'll do it: The Buckeyes win the Cotton Bowl and will advance to the CFP championship game in Atlanta, where Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman await.

Caleb Downs INT ices Cotton Bowl

The game isn't over quite yet, but a Caleb Downs interception of Quinn Ewers has essentially iced this game with less than two minutes to play.

Jack Sawyer scoop-and-score gives Ohio State two-score lead

When Ohio State needed it most, Jack Sawyer made a massive defensive play. He strip-sacks quarterback Quinn Ewers on fourth-and-goal from the Ohio State 8-yard line, then scoops the fumble and takes it 83 yards to the house to give Ohio State what appears to be an insurmountable lead with 2:13 left in this Cotton Bowl semifinal.

Ohio State retakes lead

The Buckeyes strike for the first time in the second half. Quinshon Judkins powers himself through the goal line from the 1-yard line to give Ohio State the 21-14 lead, with 7:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Big play of the drive came on fourth-and-2 at Texas' 34-yard line when Will Howard picked up 18 yards on the quarterback keeper.

It is a 13-play drive for 88 yards for Ohio State and takes 7:45 off the game clock.

Will Howard makes big play for Ohio State

What a play! Facing a big fourth-and-2 at Texas' 34-yard line, Will Howard keeps it and breaks off up the middle of the field for an 18-yard gain. Ohio State in the red zone for the first time in the second half.

Will Howard converts big third down

Ohio State makes a much-needed play on third-and-8, as Will Howard finds Carnell Tate for 18 yards on the run. The Buckeyes are knocking on the Longhorns' side of the field for the first time in the second half.

Texas moving to start fourth quarter

The Longhorns face a third-and-5 to open up the fourth quarter after a 2-yard loss on a carry from Quintrevion Wisner on second down.

End of third quarter: Ohio State 14, Texas 14

Ohio State punts again

What a turn of events. Texas sends four rushers on Will Howard on third-and-15, and Longhorns' linebacker Colin Simmons breaks up Howard's pass intended for TreVeyon Henderson. Ohio State is forced to punt for the second consecutive drive.

All momentum right now is on Texas. Ohio State star freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is also nowhere to be found, as Howard has only thrown to him three times.

Texas ties game with touchdown

If it works, why change it? That seems to be the mindset for Texas and Steve Sarkisian, who dials up the same play call as he did at the end of the first half for a touchdown.

Facing a third-and-7, Quinn Ewers takes advantage of Ohio State leaving Jaydon Blue open along the left sideline of the field for a 26-yard touchdown pass on the wheel route. It is the second score of the night for the Longhorns running back.

A really good and balanced