<
>

Ohio State's Wade ejected after helmet-to-helmet hit on Trevor Lawrence

play
Lawrence shaken up after big hit, Wade ejected for targeting (1:40)

Shaun Wade is ejected for targeting after hitting Trevor Lawrence above the shoulders. (1:40)

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Ohio State starting cornerback Shaun Wade was ejected for targeting in the second quarter against Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Playstation Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night.

With the Buckeyes leading 16-0, Wade blitzed off the edge and sacked Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence on third down, making helmet-to-helmet contact with him. Wade drew the targeting call after replay review.

Lawrence stayed down for a few minutes before jogging off the field on his own power. He returned to the game after missing one play, and Clemson ended the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run by Travis Etienne for their first score.

Clemson, which trailed 16-0 before Wade's ejection, went on to defeat the Buckeyes 29-23 and advance to the CFP championship game.

Afterward, Lawrence, who finished 18-of-33 for 259 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and also ran for 107 yards and a score, said the targeting call gave the Tigers "great momentum."

"I just got a bad stinger, so it kind of scared me a little bit. I haven't got one in a while and I couldn't really move my arm that is why I laid there for a second," Lawrence said. "We'll take anything we can get. That call was huge, and it really gave us great momentum going toward halftime."

Lawrence also scored on a 67-yard run late in the first half and connected with Etienne on a go-ahead, 34-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute, 49 seconds left in the game.

Wade, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, led the Buckeyes with eight pass breakups and also forced two fumbles this season.