Sun Jan 12 17:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Controversial Play Call Dooms Texas in Cotton Bowl Loss to Ohio State
**Arlington, TX** – Texas’ College Football Playoff hopes crumbled in the Cotton Bowl semifinal against Ohio State, largely due to a disastrous goal-line sequence in the fourth quarter. Facing a first-and-goal from the Ohio State one-yard line with 3:54 remaining and trailing 21-14, the Longhorns’ drive unraveled spectacularly.
Instead of a traditional power run, Texas called a toss play to the left, which resulted in a significant loss of yards after Ohio State safety Caleb Downs disrupted the play. Two plays later, facing fourth-and-goal from the eight-yard line, quarterback Quinn Ewers was sacked and fumbled, with Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer recovering and returning the fumble 83 yards for a touchdown. This 14-point swing effectively sealed the Buckeyes’ 28-14 victory.
The decision to run a toss play on second-and-goal from the one-yard line drew widespread criticism on social media. Many commentators questioned the play call, highlighting Ohio State’s strong goal-line defense and suggesting the play was ill-suited for the situation. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged the play’s failure, stating that if executed properly, it could have resulted in a touchdown, but the significant yardage loss proved devastating. The controversial sequence overshadowed what was otherwise a competitive game, leaving Texas with a heartbreaking loss and sparking intense debate over Sarkisian’s late-game decision-making.
First Piper 