Latest news with #JackSawyer
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer harps on 2022 loss to Michigan
Jack Sawyer is a national champion heading into this rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. However, the former Ohio State football linebacker is still trying to process how the Buckeyes lost to rival Michigan in the regular season finale in 2025. The Wolverines pulled off a major upset with a 13-10 win on Nov. 30 in "The Game" to keep OSU out of the Big Ten Conference Championship game. REQUIRED READING: Central Michigan hit with NCAA Notice of Allegations tied to Michigan sign-stealing case The Buckeyes, of course, bounced back and ended up winning the national championship, which was sealed by a game-clinching fumble return for a touchdown by Sawyer, who never beat Michigan during his OSU career. "I think they beat us straight up last year, obviously, and the year before, but my sophomore year, we left the field and we were like, 'This feels weird,' " Sawyer said during a recent podcast appearance on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward. "We lost by double digits, and it felt like we had beat the (expletive) out of them all game. You know, we ran a screen pass that we had never put in – not the formation, not the look, anything. "And you see them on the sideline, they're doing (the signals), and we change it, we audible to it or whatever, and when we run it, all the D-linemen as soon as the ball is snapped, the linebackers, everybody, they sniffed it out." The game Sawyer is referencing is a 45-23 Michigan win in 2022, when both teams entered "The Game" with an undefeated record. However, the Wolverines outscored the Buckeyes 21-3 in the fourth quarter, which included touchdown runs of 85 and 75 yards, respectively, from Michigan back Donovan Edwards. The 2022 game stands out as it was 11 months before news broke that the NCAA was investigating Michigan over alleged sign-stealing. "It's just good scouting," Sawyer said. "Come on." Conor Stalions responds to Jack Sawyer's comments Conor Stalions, the former Michigan analyst who is alleged to have led the sign-stealing scandal, responded to Sawyer's comments on Tuesday, July 29. Stallions resigned from Michigan in November 2023. "Their signal for this play was: The letter 'Y' (TE in 99% of offenses), The Delay of Game sign. So 'Y Delay.' Wonder what this will be," Stalions wrote in a post on X. "Jack is admitting they never ran it before. Your head coach already admitted that you changed your signs for us." 1. Jack is saying Ohio St never ran a Slot YY formation all year (pull up any of their games on YouTube and you'll see them run that look).2. Their signal for this play was:- The letter 'Y' (TE in 99% of offenses)- The Delay of Game signSo 'Y Delay.' 🤔 Wonder what this… The NCAA is still in the process of giving out the final ruling of the investigation into sign-stealing and advanced scouting. The NCAA sent a notice of allegations to Michigan in August 2024, which included several Level I violations, the most serious offenses in the NCAA rulebook. Meanwhile, Sawyer earned second-team all-Big Ten honors for the Buckeyes in 2025 and then helped the program win a national title. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Steelers.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Ohio State Football Star Admits He Felt Cheated In 1 Game vs. Michigan
Former Ohio State Football Star Admits He Felt Cheated In 1 Game vs. Michigan originally appeared on The Spun. With the fallout of Michigan's sign-stealing scandal still looming, one ex-Ohio State star feels he and his teammates were robbed of a fair game back in 2022. Sitting down for an appearance on Cam Heyward's "Not Just Football" podcast, former Buckeyes captain and Steelers fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer gave his first public comments on the matter. Telling his new teammate that something felt "weird" in one of OSU's previous matchups with "The Team Up North." "I'll say this," Sawyer said. "I think they beat us straight up last year, obviously, and the year before. But my sophomore year, we left the field and we were like, 'This feels weird.' We lost by double digits, and it felt like we had beat the [expletive] out of them all game." "You know, we ran a screen pass that we had never put in — not the formation, not the look, anything," the national champion recalled. "And, like, you see them on the sideline, they're doing [the signals], and we change it, we audible to it or whatever, and when we run it, all the D-linemen as soon as the ball is snapped, the linebackers, everybody, they sniffed it out." "It's just good scouting," Sawyer laughed. "Come on." Sawyer is far from the only member of that Ohio State team to say something felt off in that game. And after some initial sanctions and self-imposed penalties, Michigan could reportedly face even more discipline from the NCAA as soon as this week. Big Blue has been hit with a total of 11 combined violations between the governing body's sign-stealing and recruiting investigations, leading many to wonder how steep the punishment could be — with everything from suspensions to vacated wins on the Ohio State Football Star Admits He Felt Cheated In 1 Game vs. Michigan first appeared on The Spun on Jul 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers take Jack Sawyer, not Shedeur Sanders, with pick No. 123
The Steelers were one of the potential round-four hotspots for Shedeur Sanders. It didn't happen. Pittsburgh, with the 123rd overall selection, picked Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer. Sawyer made one of the most memorable players of the 2024 season, with a critical sack, strip, recovery, and 83-yard touchdown run against Texas in the college playoffs. He'll now become another piece in a potent Pittsburgh defense. They know how to draft and develop defensive players. Sawyer joins the group of the next wave of future Steelers.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN mentions three Ohio State games as ten best Big Ten football games
Big Ten football has come a long way in the last five years. The perception was that it was the SEC and everyone else, but that's faded with two Big Ten teams winning the College Football Playoff national championship the last two years. First Michigan, then Ohio State, after the Buckeyes have had so many close calls over the last decade. I say that to lean into the fact that there are going to be some pretty tantalizing games in the Big Ten this year, some of the best college football games of the season, and Ohio State will be a part of some of those. But first things first, to determine a Big Ten championship and potentially teams that might make the College Football Playoff, you have to play the games first, and the Big Ten has a slate of mouthwatering games, all the way from Week 1 through to the end of the regular season. In ESPN's Big Ten football preview, the 'worldwide leader" set out to name the top ten games of the Big Ten football season, and the Buckeyes are involved in almost 1/3 of those games, three out of the ten labeled. Here are the three games that ESPN believes are ten of the best in the conference that Ohio State is involved in. Ohio State vs. Texas (Aug. 30) What ESPN says: "The biggest games of Weeks 1 and 2 are Big Ten vs. SEC affairs, though they take on different flavors. Texas-Ohio State is a rematch of last year's delightful CFP semifinal, in which Jack Sawyer's late scoop-and-score ended a Longhorns comeback attempt. Both the Longhorns and Buckeyes will almost certainly start out in the AP top 5." What We Say: Texas traveling to the 'Shoe to take on Ohio State in Week 1 is the game we've all been waiting for to kick off the college football season. Both teams can still recover from a loss, but the outcome will set a narrative and put a big feather in the cap of the winner for when it comes time to impress the College Football Playoff committee. Both teams have a lot of talent, but both are replacing some key personnel. It'll be a hoot. Ohio State vs. Penn State (Oct. 1) What ESPN says: "In terms of combined SP+ ratings, this is the single biggest game of the 2025 regular season." What We Say: The biggest storyline here is whether or not James Franklin can make good on all of that preseason buzz and actually get over the hump with Penn State. And while the Nittany Lions will have a chance to show something at home against Oregon a few weeks earlier, this feels like the one that could stand between a Big Ten title, the narrative of him not being able to win the big game, and perhaps more. Ohio State at Michigan (Nov. 29) What ESPN says: "Proof that even in a 12-team CFP era, a rivalry loss can send you into a spectacular, existential tailspin. (And proof that you might be able to steer out of it a little better now.)" What We Say: There's no doubt the vitriol is at a point it has not been in a long, long time after what we all saw at the end of the game last year. Michigan will be better than last season, and Ohio State will look to end a four-game losing streak to the Wolverines. There could be some pretty substantial things at stake as they normally are in this one, and the whole college football world will be watching. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Notre Dame Impact Players for 2025: No. 50 Charles Jagusah
Notre Dame Impact Players for 2025: No. 50 Charles Jagusah originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Notre Dame is now 50 days away from kicking off the 2025 season against the Hurricanes down in Hard Rock Stadium. The Irish will be relying on some impact players to get them through the home opener as well as getting them back to another run at the National Championship. I broke down who I believe will be the top 50 impactful players for Notre Dame this season. Let's begin this countdown to kickoff with my No. 50 most impactful player, right guard Charles Jagusah. Now, I know what you're thinking. How can Jagusah be an impactful player for the Irish this season when he just broke his arm and is out for an undisclosed amount of time? Fair point. However, last season, it was unlikely that the 6-7 330 pound redshirt freshman was going to step in and start at left tackle in the national title game, but it happened. Whenever Jagusah returns to the lineup this season, he will have to make his presence felt. What He Brings To The Table Jagusah a very long and athletic player that possesses a lot of strength as a run and pass blocker. At 6-7 330 pounds, he was projected to be their biggest lineman in the starting lineup. We've seen Jagusah's ability as a pass protector in the national title game as he went up against the likes of JT Tuimoloau who is now with the Indianapolis Colts and Jack Sawyer who is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to stay healthy during his time in South Bend. Jagusah tore his pectoral muscle in the first week of fall camp ahead of the 2024 season. Fast forward to this summer, last week it was announced that he broke his arm in a freak ATV accident while celebrating the Fourth of July. Jagusah's timeline to return is uncertain. What Is His Impact? What is certain, is that offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will need him to step up and play to his potential at some point in the 2025 season whether that be in October, November, December or January. Notre Dame is projected to play another 14 plus game season and will need all hands on deck to return them to the National Championship stage. If Jagusah is able to return healthy and is ready to step back into the starting lineup, he'll play a big role in this unit reaching their ceiling. Notre Dame's offensive line has the potential to be a Joe Moore Award finalist, if not winner, in 2025. Add in the fact that they'll be breaking in a first time starting quarterback, Jagusah's performance when he returns will be a major key in offensive success. They have viable and more than capable options for his replacement until he's ready to return, but Jagusah has arguably the highest ceiling of any player in that room. His potential and talent is what make him my No. 50 most impactful player for Notre Dame's 2025 Breakdown Content 2025 Commit Rankings - Offense2025 Commit Rankings - Defense——————— Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community!Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunesFollow me on Twitter: Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
