The Ohio State Buckeyes booked their spot in the College Football Playoff national championship game with a 28-14 victory over the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

The pivotal play in the game saw Texas star quarterback Quinn Ewers get strip-sacked by Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, who picked the ball up and returned it 83 yards for the game-sealing touchdown.

While the play was the turning point in the game, there was also a deeper tie that fans were quick to note because Ewers and Sawyer were actually roommates back when the talented passer was with the Buckeyes in 2021.

Sawyer got the best of Ewers this time, and he ended the Longhorns season in one fell swoop. 

It doesn’t appear there’s any bad blood between Sawyer and Ewers though, as a slow-motion video of the two during this game showed the junior QB flashing a smile at his friend as they crossed paths on the field.

Ewers and Sawyer were part of Ohio State’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class four years ago when both were highly-touted five-star prospects. 

They ended up living together before Ewers transferred to Texas, where he has spent the past three seasons and led the Longhorns to 27 wins, a Big 12 championship, and back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer

© Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

With both guys seemingly destined for the NFL next season, they are heading into the offseason on very different notes. Sawyer will be looking to help the Buckeyes win a national title before he departs for the pros, while Ewers will be lamenting this missed opportunity to win it all.

Even though both guys likely feel very differently about the outcome of Friday’s game, it’s clear the bond between them is still as strong as ever.