Ohio State wasted no time reclaiming momentum in Friday night’s Cotton Bowl showdown against Texas. After the Longhorns executed an impressive two-minute drill late in the second quarter, capped by a Quinn Ewers 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue, the game was tied at 7–7. The Longhorns’ swift, 59-yard drive took just 1:23 off the clock, giving them a surge of energy heading into halftime—or so it seemed.
In a dramatic response, Ohio State needed only one play to turn the tide. On the very next snap, quarterback Will Howard connected with running back TreVeyon Henderson on a screen pass. With a convoy of Buckeye blockers clearing the way, Henderson exploded down the field for a 75-yard touchdown, regaining the lead for Ohio State just before the break.
A Surprising Play in a Crucial Moment
The 75-yard touchdown came from a play that was nearly sidelined from Ohio State’s game plan. Despite dedicating practice time to screen plays, the team hadn’t been utilizing them much during games. In the postgame press conference, quarterback Will Howard and head coach Ryan Day reflected on the decision to call the screen pass at such a pivotal moment.
“I mean, I don’t think anyone expected that to go for 75 yards,” Howard admitted. “It was intended to set something up—a drive-starter. It turned into a huge play for us, a massive momentum shift. We always talk about winning the middle eight, and that was big.”
Coach Day added with a laugh, “We were joking in the locker room because we run a screen drill all the time, and sometimes the guys are like, ‘Are we ever going to call a screen?’ I even told the coaches, ‘We’ve got to stop doing the screen drill since we never use it.’ And then, sure enough, it went the whole distance on the first play.”
Strategic Execution at the Perfect Time
On a night when Ohio State’s rushing game was largely stifled—managing just 81 yards on 24 carries—the decision to dial up a screen pass to Henderson was a game-changer. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and Coach Day’s well-timed call allowed one of their most explosive players to make a crucial impact in open space.
This pivotal play not only shifted the momentum back in Ohio State’s favor but also highlighted the strategic depth of the Buckeyes’ coaching staff, turning a nearly forgotten drill into the defining moment of the game.
