There’s never going to be much love lost between Nebraska football and Ohio State fans. At least as long as the two teams are facing off against each other in the Big Ten. In fact, considering the level of success the Buckeyes have had during a period of time when the Huskers have struggled, NU fans aren’t totally out of line if the emotions they feel for OSU is closer to hate.
But even if your dislike of Ryan Day’s squad reaches the level of “hate” there is one Buckeye who Cornhuskers fans should probably shower with love.
Considering the story of Captain Jack Sawyer that got a spotlight just ahead of the National Title Game, Nebraska football nation should feel a special kinship with the senior linebacker. Especially this week.
Ohio State DE Jack Sawyer honors a 17-year-old boy named Jack Bennett Sawyer who died from cancer in 2023 by wearing JBSSTRONG on his wrist tape every game.
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 20, 2025
(via @JenLada) pic.twitter.com/0Ayma9gmMg
Nebraska football fans should have a special bond with Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer
During ESPN's College GameDay ahead of the big game on Monday night, the network showed a feature of the Ohio State hero, his life off the field, and one of the reasons the sport means so much to him just as his college career reaches its end.
The segment detailed Sawyer's connection with one Jacket Bennett Sawyer, a 17-year-old boy from Ohio who lost his battle with cancer in 2023. The friendship between the two grew stronger over the months and Jack was one of the first to celebrate when the teen rang the bell in January of 2023, announcing that he was cancer free.
Unfortunately, just a few months later, JB passed away from an aggressive strain of bone cancer and it’s this part of the tale that Nebraska fans can certainly relate. Especially this week.
The Huskers had their version of players bonding with a young boy who valiantly fought against cancer for years. There were of course, periods where it seemed as if Jack Hoffman had finally beat it. Only to suffer a recurrence of the brain cancer that eventually took his life this month.
Ever since JB passed away, Captain Jack Sawyer writers "JBSSTRONG" on his wrist tape before every single game. That tradition has become more powerful and poignant as the Buckeyes have gone on this playoff run.
Some moments in the sports world are bigger than the rivalries. They’re bigger than who wins and loses. Nebraska football fans were certainly reminded of that this week. And Jack Sawyer and Ohio State can certainly relate.