Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was asked two days before Friday’s Cotton Bowl — at a sprawling resort a half hour away from AT&T Stadium where his past relationship with Ohio State dominated discussion — whether he’d had any plans to reunite with his former freshman year roommate Jack Sawyer.

The Longhorns were one yard from a late tying touchdown, but Jack Sawyer’s fumble return helped the Buckeyes seal the Cotton Bowl and set up a national championship game matchup against Notre Dame.