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Steve Sarkisian's Texas Longhorns are still reeling from their 28-14 defeat to Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium on Friday. What comes next is a period of introspection and soul-searching ahead of next season.
According to John Middlekauff, Steve Sarkisian's indecisive play-calling has cost the Longhorns a chance to play in the national championship game on Jan. 20. Speaking about the now-infamous play that led to Quinn Ewers fumbling the ball and Jack Sawyer picking it up for an 83-yard touchdown return, former NFL scout John Middlekauff said:
"The game didn't happen on fourth down, the game happened on second down when he ran a lateral toss. To me, you can't go lateral in that situation. You have to go vertical. Hell bring in Arch (Manning) and go forward. You would score. I have pretty good confidence ... It's going to work, you're definitely not going to lose seven or eight yards" [8:00 onwards]
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Quinn Ewers' reaction to the fumble and touchdown return by Jack Sawyer
Following the end of the game, Quinn Ewers spoke to the press regarding that late fourth quarter play which all but ended Texas's season.
“I felt him. I started drifting away, thought I was going to be able to get the ball off before he got there,” Ewers said. “I saw Jack running with the ball down the sideline. ... Jack’s a good player made a great play.”
Per Jack Sawyer's account, the return of the ball seemed to work on almost pure instinct as he was about to physically give up.
“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said.
Jack Sawyer and Quinn Ewers were roommates at Ohio State during the latter's time at Columbus. Now one will have the chance to face Notre Dame for the national title and the other one will have to reconsider his future career prospects.
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