Ryan Day: Jack Sawyer 'Became a Legend at Ohio State' with Strip-Sack TD vs. Texas

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day praised defensive end Jack Sawyer after his turnover and subsequent touchdown helped the Buckeyes secure a 28-14 win over Texas in Friday night's College Football Playoff semifinal.

"I can't say enough about Jack Sawyer," Day said following the victory. "He's a guy who loves being a Buckeye, he loves his teammates. He's done everything we've asked him to do. He's a captain. He's everything that we could possibly ask for in a captain. To make a play like that in that moment. We talked about before the game, you wanna leave a legacy behind? You become a legend. He just became a legend at Ohio State."

With Ohio State holding a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter and Texas threatening to score a game-tying touchdown, Sawyer sacked Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers and knocked the ball loose. He scooped up the fumble and returned it 83 yards for a score.

Ewers was intercepted by defensive back Caleb Downs on Texas' ensuing possession, cementing the victory.

Sawyer finished with three tackles and a pass defensed to go along with his forced fumble and eventual touchdown.

The senior pass-rusher has been a key piece of the Buckeyes' defensive front throughout the year. In 14 appearances entering Saturday's clash, he racked up 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, eight sacks, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

Sawyer will look to continue his impressive playoff run in the national championship game against a Notre Dame team that owns the sixth-best scoring offense in the country.