Whatever Ryan Day said to his team after the loss to Michigan, it obviously worked.

After calls to fire their head coach after Thanksgiving over their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines – and this one by far their worst – the Buckeyes are headed to the national after Friday night’s 28-14 Cotton Bowl Classic win over Texas Championship.

After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left (on a drive that included a huge 4th down conversion), Texas came back quickly in response, thanks in large part to a 34-yard catch from Gunnar Helm. After consecutive defensive pass interferences in the end zone, the Longhorns experienced a new series of defeats at the goal line. It was a matter of time before the game ended in a tie, but then Texas’ nightmare occurred.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after a play in the first quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

After being stuffed on first down, Quintrevion Wisner lost seven yards on a second down throw, putting Texas in trouble. The third down pass fell incomplete, and on fourth down Ewers lost a fumble that was forced and recovered by Jack Sawyer, who took it 82 yards the other way for a touchdown.

In a game that seemed like another overtime game for the Longhorns, their season flashed before their eyes with the snap of a finger. Hoping for a miracle, Ewers threw a pick on the next ride and it was all over.

The Buckeyes got on the field first and scored a touchdown after stopping Texas on 4th down. The Longhorns’ offense had stalled in the first half, but they tied the game with 29 seconds left in the half and were ready to head to the locker room when the game was tied at seven.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard touchdown catch and run against Texas Longhorns in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in January , 10. 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

However, Ohio State was not. Right after a touchback, Will Howard threw a pass to TreVeyon Henderson, who got a few blocks and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead heading into the locker room. It’s pretty easy to point to the two games that cost Texas the season, hindsight is 20/20.

Both teams traded punts for most of the third quarter, but with just over three minutes left, Ewers found Jaydon Blue for his second touchdown connection of the night, tying the game. But then the Buckeyes scored and it was 21-14.

Before the game, it was announced that Ewers said he expected to play in the NFL next season, so it will be interesting to see if his plans change.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) celebrates a sack by Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) in the first quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January 10. 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Now it’s the eighth-seeded Buckeyes against No. 7 Notre Dame on Jan. 20 – a goal for the expanded playoffs.

Like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing loss of their own this season, losing a home contest to Northern Illinois in September. But since then it’s been 13 wins in a row.

Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.