With one quick look at a camera during Friday’s College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl game, Trey Sermon gave the internet its latest great meme.
No. 3 Ohio State stunned No. 2 Clemson in the second playoff game of New Year’s Day, knocking off the Tigers, 49-28, to advance to the national championship game against No. 1 Alabama, which beat No. 4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl semifinal. And Sermon was one of several Buckeyes who had a fantastic game.
Midway through the third quarter when Ohio State was up, 35-21, quarterback Justin Fields threw the ball to Sermon on 3rd-and-10 on their own nine-yard line. The senior running back picked up a first down and was tackled at about the 23-yard line.
But was he down?
With no whistle, Sermon got back up and bolted toward the end zone for what officials initially ruled a touchdown.
Was Trey Sermon down, or is this a Touchdown?@OhioStateFB | #GoBuckspic.twitter.com/YsRglIGqc6
— Collin Wilson (@_Collin1) January 2, 2021
Ultimately, the refs reversed the touchdown call and ruled him down at the 23. And a couple minutes later, Fields connected with junior wide receiver Chris Olave for an incredible 56-yard touchdown to extend the Buckeyes’ lead at that point to 42-21.
During the review of the long touchdown attempt, Sermon — who had 31 carries for 193 yards and a touchdown against Clemson — had a little smirk on his face and then looked up directly at the camera. It was as if he knew exactly how that review was going to end, but he had to attempt to go for it.
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2021
It was hilarious and quickly became a very versatile meme.