Social media reacts to Texas, Steve Sarkisian's disastrous goal-line toss vs Ohio State
Texas football faced first-and-goal from Ohio State's 1-yard line with 3:54 remaining in the fourth quarter, trailing 21-14 and a chance to tie the game in the Cotton Bowl semifinal.
The Longhorns were in a must-score situation, with the clock winding down and their season on the line in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Three plays later, Texas was facing fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line. The Longhorns' scoring opportunity turned into a disastrous 14-point swing for Ohio State, as Jack Sawyer strip-sacked Quinn Ewers and returned the fumble 83 yards for a touchdown. It arguably was the most pivotal play in the Buckeyes' 28-14 win.
REQUIRED READING: Texas, Steve Sarkisian crumble to Ohio State in Cotton Bowl after curious play call
The second-most pivotal play may have come two downs earlier. After all, how did the Longhorns move back seven yards after facing first-and-goal at the 1?
Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian dialed up a toss to the left sideline, which was run down by Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Though he didn't make the tackle, he forced Quintrevion Wisner back far enough that Ohio State was able to tackle him for the huge loss.
"That's one of those plays, if you block it all right, you get into the end zone," Sarkisian said after the game. "We didn't, and we lost quite a bit of yardage."
Here's how social media reacted to Texas' play call in the important moment:
Social media reacts to Texas' toss play vs Ohio State
Here are the best reactions to Texas' toss play call late in the fourth quarter against the Buckeyes on Friday night:
They called toss on 2nd down because the Goal Line plan is built off film that you watch all year...@OhioStateFB was the best Goal Line defense in America, just ask Oregon, Nebraska, Penn State...Texas plan was likely to get on perimeter once the bigs were on field
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) January 11, 2025
Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler talk with SVP about the Texas toss play on 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line that resulted in a 7-yard loss (2 plays before the Ohio State game-sealing TD). 🏈🎙️#CFP pic.twitter.com/P5nhEq2c9x
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 11, 2025
Thank you for running a toss sweep at the goaline Texas. Thank you.
— Canaan Smith-Njigba (@CanaanSmith_) January 11, 2025
You got it 2nd and goal from the 1 and you toss it backwards 6 yards… One of the worst play calls I’ve ever seen from Texas and Steve Sarkisian
— MattBeGreat (@mattbegreatyt) January 11, 2025
Oh my god Texas ran a toss play from the goal line and lost like five yards. How do you toss it against either of these defenses?!?!?!
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) January 11, 2025
As inexplicable as the toss play was from the 1 yard line....the reality is that Texas wouldn't have been back in that game unless Sark cooked with the playcalling in the 2nd half.
The whole experience of the Texas' season all in one half of football— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) January 11, 2025
It’s kind of crazy the chain reaction that happens when one team is elite at something. Ohio State’s defense is dominant up front and near the goal line. That forces Texas to run a toss and multiple passes near the end zone — ultimately leading to that game-sealing TD.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) January 11, 2025
Kelvin Banks Jr. shared his perspective on the 2nd & 1 toss play on the goal line:#HookEm | #Texas pic.twitter.com/riiWY4YDBV
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) January 11, 2025
Texas at the goal line pic.twitter.com/OoyxwHRDeS
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 11, 2025
The 4th-and-goal Texas disaster that results in a Jack Sawyer strip-sack and scoop-and-score for Ohio State.
The sideline cams show Steve Sarkisian's soul being crushed in real time on the Pat McAfee broadcast. #CFP pic.twitter.com/VipP5Ska1s— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 11, 2025
That Texas goal line series was the most Hugh Freeze ass playcalling I half expected a defensive lineman to get under center and run the option.
— Bunkie Perkins (@BunkiePerkins) January 11, 2025
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Social media reacts to Texas, Steve Sarkisian's goal-line toss vs OSU