Ohio State University is widely considered one of the most prestigious football programs in the country, home to legends, championship contenders, and prodigious talent. However, when defensive end Jack Sawyer recently penned an essay reflecting on his journey with the team, the narrative he presented wasn’t just one of triumph and glory. In fact, it revealed a deeper, more unsettling side to the life of a college football player under the immense pressure of an elite program.
In his essay, titled “One More, Then Forever,” Sawyer discusses the ups and downs of his Ohio State career, the physical toll the sport takes on players, and his looming decision to leave the game after this season. While his words highlight the emotional and mental weight of collegiate football, they also serve as a stark critique of a system that churns through athletes with little regard for their well-being. Sawyer’s reflections are, in many ways, a sobering commentary on the darker side of college football at powerhouse programs like Ohio State.
The very title of Sawyer’s essay – “One More, Then Forever” – hints at an unsettling reality for many players at top-tier schools: the idea of leaving the sport behind once the clock runs out. It’s a harsh reminder that for players like Sawyer, the love for the game is often overshadowed by the physical destruction it causes. Sawyer’s candid exploration of the injury risks, the mental toll, and the sacrifices he made for the program provides a rare glimpse into the brutal demands placed on student-athletes. However, the essay also raises a question that many prefer to ignore: How much longer can college football players like Sawyer continue to play without being truly seen as individuals with their own aspirations, goals, and health?
It’s hard to ignore the contrast between Sawyer’s journey and the lofty expectations thrust upon him as a top recruit. Ohio State, much like other elite programs, has become a business — a machine that churns out talent for the NFL while pushing its student-athletes to the limit. As Sawyer’s essay touches upon, the pressures of maintaining top form for not just his coaches but also for the fans and media have often left little room for personal growth or healing.
This problem is not unique to Ohio State, but Sawyer’s words highlight a troubling pattern across major college football programs: A system that praises players for their dedication and grit, but rarely acknowledges the mental and physical scars left behind. Sawyer’s reflection on his decision to step away from the game after this season reveals how fleeting the glory truly is. While fans cheer for every sack, every tackle, they rarely consider the long-term implications of these moments of triumph.
Perhaps even more controversial is the role Ohio State’s coaching staff and program administrators play in this ecosystem. Ohio State, a school that touts its academic rigor, should be held accountable for its football culture, which often prioritizes performance and wins over the well-being of its players. Sawyer’s essay does not outright criticize his coaches, but the underlying message is clear: When you’re a part of a top program, you are a cog in a machine, and that machine has little regard for the physical and emotional aftermath once the game is over.
Sawyer’s departure from the game after this season isn’t a singular case; it’s part of a growing trend among college athletes, particularly those in high-contact sports, who are recognizing the importance of their own health and mental well-being over the insatiable appetite of college football. For Sawyer, it’s “one more” game, then forever. But for how many others in the system, this path is a one-way street to injury, exhaustion, and an uncertain future?
Jack Sawyer’s essay is both a personal reflection and a call to action for the college football world to examine its practices more closely. How much longer will we continue to glorify the game while ignoring the toll it takes on the very people who make it possible? Sawyer’s decision to walk away may be a courageous move for his own future, but it’s also a reminder that the system that created him, shaped him, and profited off his labor is one that needs drastic reform. Until that happens, the “forever” that Sawyer speaks of may only be the beginning of a much larger conversation about the future of college football.