Three Stars of the Game: Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson and Caleb Downs Earn Top Honors For Their Performances in the Cotton Bowl

In Ohio State's Cotton Bowl win over Texas, the Eleven Warriors staff thinks three Buckeyes stood out above the rest as we named defensive end Jack Sawyer, running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive back Caleb Downs as our Three Stars of the Game.

First Star: Jack Sawyer

Duh.

Sawyer, the lifeblood of Ohio State’s 2024 team, made the play of the season in the Cotton Bowl. With the Buckeyes leading 21-14 late in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns marched to the goal line and were inches from evening the score. Following a trio of stops from Ohio State’s defense, Texas went for it on fourth down, and as Quinn Ewers dropped back to pass, Sawyer knocked the football loose, scooped it off the turf and ran it 83 yards for a touchdown.

The Paul Keels call of Jack Sawyer's scoop-and-score pic.twitter.com/VYhyfwANsQ

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 11, 2025

In a postgame press conference that featured Ryan Day, Will Howard and Sawyer, the Ohio State head coach said Sawyer’s scoop-and-score was a full-circle moment. Sawyer, the lifeblood of the 2024 football team, has become like family to him, Day said.

“I couldn’t be prouder. I couldn’t be prouder,” Day said. “I just love stories of guys who go through difficult times, stay loyal, defend the people they love the most and then come out the back end. … You got one right here (in Sawyer). This guy was never stronger than when we needed him most during difficult times. We’ve been through difficult times together. That’s how you know. How do you know someone’s character? When you go through tough times together.”

Sawyer said his scoop-and-score was a “special moment” for him. Also, as he reflected on what went through his mind while running 83 yards to the end zone, Sawyer couldn’t help but take a jab at Howard.

“Shit, I guess just don’t fall like Will did. I’m joking. I’m kidding,” Sawyer said with a laugh. “But seriously, I hit about the 30, and I look back, and I’m like, ‘I hope I got some blockers. I’m running out of steam here.’ But they were running with me side by side. That just speaks volumes to who this team is, too. We always have each other’s backs. It was a special moment. I love the state of Ohio. I love Ohio State football. Man, like I said a million times after the game, God is great. He’s put this team in such a great spot. I’m just so fortunate to play in the national championship my last year here.”

Second Star: TreVeyon Henderson

Talk about redemption.

On Ohio State’s second drive of the game, Henderson took a handoff from Howard and ran into a brick wall of Texas defenders, including Colin Simmons and Jermayne Lole. Following the play, Henderson shoved Lole after the Buckeye and a Longhorn exchanged heated words. Henderson received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that seemingly sapped the energy out of Ohio State’s offense for the rest of the first half.

Ohio State called for a personal foul here. I wonder what was said to warrant the punch? pic.twitter.com/jC53RyBp3Z

— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) January 11, 2025

That is, until Henderson made a 75-yard house call on the Buckeyes’ final possession of the opening 30 minutes.

I think TreVeyon Henderson hit one of the Mario Kart dash panels around the 50-yard line. His acceleration was insane. pic.twitter.com/mGHupcVFNu

— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) January 11, 2025

After the game, Day said he and his staff laughed about the touchdown because it came via a screen. Day said Ohio State often runs a “screen drill” in practice, but the Buckeyes seldom ran them in their first 14 games, making him want to remove the drill altogether.

“Sometimes, (the players) are like, ‘Are we ever gonna call a screen?’ And I actually said to the coaches, I said, ‘We’re going to stop doing screen drill because we don’t call any dang screens.’ But it was, ‘What do you want to run? You want to run the ball? You want to take a knee?’ I said, ‘No, just run the screen.’ Sure enough, it went the whole distance,” Day said.

The head coach then praised Henderson for his resilience, which enabled him to bounce back from an uncharacteristic moment and give his team a boost before halftime.

“TreVeyon has become a three-down back. TreVeyon is gonna be a tremendous pro because not only does he do a good job running the football, but he protects it a high level and he’s a threat with the ball in his hands as a receiver,” Day said. “Hats off to him. Very well-executed. The line got out there, and (Howard) made a great play because they bought pressure, he just got it off and TreVeyon went down to catch it. I mean, another huge play in the game.”

Third Star: Caleb Downs

While Downs didn’t have moments quite like Sawyer or Henderson, the All-American defensive back was as good as can be in the Cotton Bowl, recording five tackles, one tackle of loss and one interception in Ohio State’s win over Texas.

Downs’ interception put the final stamp on the Buckeyes’ win in Dallas, as it came with Ohio State leading 28-14 and with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. The moment came one drive after Downs and Lathan Ransom blew up a Quintrevion Wisner run on 2nd-and-Goal for Texas. Two plays later, Sawyer collected his strip-sack and scoop-and-score. 

Downs had a pretty good view of Sawyer’s touchdown.

This is What its all about
@caleb_downs2 x @jacksawyer33 pic.twitter.com/XuqwptgO8x

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 11, 2025

“It was a blessing to watch that,” Downs said.

With one game remaining, we’re still tracking the stars (or points) each Ohio State player receives in 2024. Here's how we've done it: Each time a Buckeye has earned the first star of the game, that Buckeye adds three points to their season total. Then, the second star and third star have added two points and one point to their totals.