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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tim Capurso

Steve Sarkisian Explains Red Zone Play-Call That Befuddled College Football Fans

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts as he heads to the locker room after the Longhorns' 28-14 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 10, 2025. | Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Texas Longhorns were in prime position to tie the game in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, as they marched from their own 25-yard line all the way down to the Ohio State one-yard line, where they had four chances to punch in the equalizer.

On first down, Texas running back Jerrick Gibson was stuffed for no gain. On second down, the Longhorns opted to run a toss play to fellow halfback Quintrevion Wisner, which resulted in a loss of seven yards. After an incomplete pass on third down, quarterback Quinn Ewers was strip-sacked by his former Buckeyes roommate Jack Sawyer, who returned the forced fumble 83 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.

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