Ryan Day is on top of the world right now, just about 6 weeks after some in Columbus were calling for his head after that horrific home loss to Michigan.

The Ohio State head coach is headed to the national title game, and one of the many people he has to thank for that is star defensive end Jack Sawyer. With Friday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas hanging in the balance, Sawyer strip-sacked Quinn Ewers, his former Buckeyes roommate, and sauntered the other way on an 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown that sealed Ohio State’s spot opposite Notre Dame on Jan. 20.

Day watched it all unfold on the sideline in Arlington, Texas, as a possible tie game turned into a 28-14 victory. Day had strong words of love for his standout defensive end, knowing what the touchdown and the victory meant to him.

“The guy over there, I don’t know if there’s — I mean, sure, we can argue about it, I’m sure, who loves being a Buckeye more, but this is somebody who grew up in Columbus, who has always wanted to be a Buckeye, who has always waited for a moment like this,” explained Day. “So, to see him get the moment that he had (Friday night), I mean, he’s become like family to me. He has, to me and my wife and my kids.”

 

Now, Day, Sawyer, and the Buckeyes have one more bridge to cross against the Fighting Irish in Atlanta.