Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson made up for an early blunder in a major way at the end of the first half of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Texas.
The senior running back scored a 75-yard touchdown on a screen pass from quarterback Will Howard with 13 seconds left in the second quarter to give Ohio State (12-2) a 14-7 lead.
With a win, the Buckeyes will play Notre Dame (14-1) in the CFP national championship game on Jan. 20.
His score came on the first offensive play from scrimmage after Texas (13-2) tied the game, 7-7, on an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quinn Ewers to running back Jaydon Blue.
In the first quarter, a costly Henderson personal foul penalty killed a promising Ohio State drive.
The Buckeyes drove to the Texas 38-yard line when Henderson was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after jabbing Longhorns defensive lineman Alex January in the facemask following a one-yard run. The dead-ball penalty forced Ohio State into a second-and-24 from its 48-yard line, and it punted two plays later.
At the end of the first half, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, who asked him about Henderson’s quick redemption.
“He’s been around for a long time,” Day said. “We trust him.”
Henderson’s score could prove to be one of the defining plays of the game. Ohio State won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, giving it an opportunity to double-dip and extend its lead to double digits before Texas earns another possession.
