Ryan Day declared Jack Sawyer an Ohio State legend after his game-winning strip sack of his former roommate, securing the Buckeyes’ title-game ticket.
In the storied history of Ohio State football, moments of greatness are often defined not by sheer statistics alone, but by timely heroics—those single plays that etch a player’s name into Buckeye lore. On a crisp night in late November, with a trip to the Big Ten Championship on the line, defensive end Jack Sawyer delivered one of those moments—a thunderous strip sack of his former roommate that sealed the victory and the Buckeyes’ ticket to the title game.
“Jack Sawyer just became an Ohio State legend,” head coach Ryan Day said at the postgame podium, his voice a mix of pride, relief, and awe. That one play, Day explained, encapsulated everything Sawyer had become for the Buckeyes: relentless, prepared, selfless—and now, immortalized in scarlet and gray.
A Moment That Changed Everything
With just under two minutes remaining, the Buckeyes clung to a narrow lead against their archrival in a matchup that had lived up to every ounce of hype. The stakes couldn’t have been higher. The winner would punch its ticket to the Big Ten title game—and likely the College Football Playoff. The loser? Relegated to “what ifs” and bowl speculation.
As their opponent drove into Buckeye territory, fans in the Horseshoe held their breath. Then came the play that changed everything.
Lining up on the right edge, Jack Sawyer exploded off the snap. In a split-second burst of speed and power, he bent the corner around the offensive tackle and met the quarterback—none other than his former Ohio State roommate—square in the backfield. With perfect technique, he struck the ball loose. It tumbled to the turf, where it was scooped up by a Buckeye defender. Pandemonium followed.
It wasn’t just a sack. It was the defining moment of the game, and perhaps the season. Ohio State would run out the clock and walk away with a ticket to the Big Ten title game. And Sawyer? He walked into history.
From Five-Star Prospect to Buckeye Hero
Jack Sawyer’s journey to that moment began long before the lights and cameras of the title-clinching night. A five-star recruit out of Pickerington North High School, just a short drive from Columbus, Sawyer arrived at Ohio State with massive expectations. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive end had been labeled a future first-round pick before he even played a down of college football.
But his early years in Columbus were marked more by promise than production. Buried on a deep and talented defensive line, Sawyer flashed brilliance in spurts but didn’t immediately live up to the overwhelming hype. Still, his coaches saw something special brewing.
“He’s always had the tools,” said defensive line coach Larry Johnson. “But what impressed me most was how he matured. He became a student of the game, a leader in the locker room. That’s when you knew he was about to take the next step.”
That next step became a leap in 2024. Entering the season, Sawyer embraced a new role as a full-time starter and emotional leader on the defensive line. As the season progressed, he became one of the most consistent disruptors in the Big Ten, compiling sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hurries in nearly every game. But his biggest contribution wasn’t one that showed up in a box score—until the final game of the regular season.
Roommates Turned Rivals
What added an extra layer of drama to Sawyer’s game-changing play was the identity of the quarterback he sacked: his former Ohio State roommate.
The two had come into the program in the same recruiting class, shared countless film sessions, workouts, and late-night conversations about chasing championships. But when the quarterback transferred to a Big Ten rival for more playing time, it created a strange new dynamic. While the two maintained mutual respect, their competitive fire grew stronger—and the idea that they could meet again in a high-stakes clash loomed over both their seasons.
“We used to joke about it,” Sawyer said postgame. “We’d sit in our dorm room and say, ‘What if one day, we end up on opposite sidelines in a game like that?’ And then it happened. I knew if I got a chance, I had to make a play.”
Make a play he did. And the fact that it came against someone who had once shared his locker room made it even more personal.
Ryan Day’s Declaration
Ryan Day has coached countless elite players during his tenure at Ohio State. He’s led Heisman Trophy candidates, top-five NFL Draft picks, and captains who have gone on to greatness. So when he uses the word “legend,” it carries weight.
“Jack didn’t just make a big play. He made the play,” Day told reporters. “In the biggest moment, when we needed someone to step up and be a Buckeye hero, he answered the call. That’s what makes you a legend in this program.”
Day compared the play to some of the greatest defensive moments in Ohio State history—Chris Gamble’s interceptions in the early 2000s, Joey Bosa’s sack-sealing efforts against Penn State, and Darron Lee’s game-changing pick-six during the 2014 playoff run.
“But what sets this apart,” Day added, “is that it wasn’t just about athleticism. It was about preparation, heart, and leadership. Jack has become the player we all believed he could be, and then some.”
Teammates React
As the Buckeye locker room erupted in postgame celebration, Sawyer was swarmed by teammates. Some hugged him. Others shouted praise. A few, including fellow defensive linemen JT Tuimoloau and Tyleik Williams, simply stood in awe.
“That’s our guy,” Tuimoloau said. “He’s been grinding every day. No one deserves this moment more than Jack.”
Veteran linebacker Tommy Eichenberg said the play will be remembered for years to come. “That strip sack is going to be played on highlight reels for the next decade. It’s iconic. That’s Buckeye football.”
A New Chapter Begins
With Ohio State heading to the Big Ten Championship, Sawyer’s star is only rising. NFL scouts were already watching him closely throughout the season, but that final play may have cemented his status as a potential first-round pick. More importantly, it secured his place in the hearts of Buckeye fans forever.
But when asked about the NFL or his legacy, Sawyer remained humble.
“I’m just happy I could help my team win,” he said. “All the credit goes to the guys around me—my coaches, my teammates. We’re not done yet. The job’s not finished.”
The Legend of 33
In the days that followed the game, Ohio State fans began calling the play “The Strip in the ‘Shoe.” T-shirts bearing Sawyer’s name and jersey number 33 began circulating online. Social media was flooded with tributes, memes, and videos of the play from every possible angle.
But the most telling tribute came from the players who came before him.
Chase Young tweeted, “Sawyer = Dog. That’s how you do it.” Nick Bosa posted an Instagram story calling it a “cold-blooded moment.” When former Buckeyes anoint one of their own, you know it means something.
Looking Ahead
As Ohio State prepares for its next challenge—the Big Ten title game and a potential College Football Playoff berth—Jack Sawyer stands as a symbol of what Buckeye football is all about: resilience, preparation, and seizing the moment.
The Buckeyes will need him again, no doubt. The road to a national title is never easy. But whatever happens next, Sawyer’s place in Ohio State history is already secure.
Ryan Day summed it up best: “We talk all the time about writing your story. Jack wrote his tonight—and it’s a Buckeye classic.”
