The College Football Playoff semifinal matchups are officially in the books, and they certainly lived up to the excitement. Friday night’s showdown between Ohio State and Texas was a prime example, as the Buckeyes triumphed 28-14 after entering the fourth quarter tied at 14.
The game-changing moment came when Ohio State defensive lineman Jack Sawyer delivered a clutch play on 4th & Goal with just 2:30 left on the clock. Sawyer not only forced a fumble but returned it for a touchdown, securing the Buckeyes’ victory with a commanding 28-14 lead.
While the play itself was thrilling for any college football fan, an interesting moment on the Ohio State sideline during Sawyer’s fumble return added an extra layer of intrigue to the highlight.
The play was undeniably thrilling, and any college football fan would agree on how incredible it was. But did anyone catch what was going on in the background on the Ohio State sideline as Sawyer sprinted down the field to score the touchdown?
Let’s take a closer look.
Georgia was unfairly penalized in their quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame, and the consequences were significant.
As seen in the above clip, Ohio State’s sideline was clearly on the white out-of-bounds line during their game, with numerous players and coaches spilling onto the field. This mirrors the situation where Georgia defensive back Parker Jones was penalized for a similar sideline infraction in their loss to Notre Dame in the CFP quarterfinals.
This penalty played a pivotal role in shifting momentum. Had the penalty not been called, Georgia likely would have scored the first touchdown of the game, taking a 7-0 lead. Instead, the penalty halted their drive, forcing them to settle for a field goal, and Notre Dame took advantage of the opportunity.
While the penalty on Jones initially seemed justified, it may not have been warranted. Jones’ toe barely grazed the sideline, and the official was moving erratically near the boundary. If the official had maintained a straight path, the penalty might never have been called. In comparison, Ohio State had several players and coaches well over the line, but no penalty was issued.
This isn’t a call for penalties to be imposed on Ohio State, but rather a claim that Georgia shouldn’t have been penalized at all. If that had been the case, Georgia might have triumphed over Notre Dame and advanced in the CFP.
