Buckeyes Defense Failed in Peach Bowl
The Peach Bowl gave us everything we were hoping for. No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes took on the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs. The Buckeyes were fortunate to have been chosen for the College Playoffs. They know that themselves. As for Georgia, they’ve been the best team in the country for the last 18 months. In the Peach Bowl, Buckeyes Defense became the demise of their heartbreaking loss. Ohio State squandered not one, but TWO 14-point leads to Georgia.
Ohio State came into this game with their backs against the wall. Many people didn’t think they could hang on to Georgia or keep up with Georgia. Ohio State did hang on to Georgia. Buckeyes Offense was clicking. Marvin Harrison Jr. had a superb first-half performance by scoring two receiving touchdowns. Ohio State did everything it could from an offensive standpoint. CJ Stroud showed a lot of toughness and resilience in the fourth quarter with her arms and legs. Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett also showed some grit in the 4th quarter. It was a magnificent quarterback performance, especially in that fourth quarter.
We should not and I repeat, we should NOT blame Noah Ruggles for missing the game-winning 50-yard field goal that could’ve sent the Buckeyes to the National Championship Game.
After Adonai Mitchell caught the game-winning 10-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 42-41 lead with 54 seconds left to go, Buckeyes had plenty of time to win it with a field goal, but again let’s not focus on the kicker. Please don’t give him the Scott Norwood treatment. The defense is to blame for the loss. Defense wins championships. Although Harrison Jr. getting rocked at the end of the third quarter impacted the Buckeyes, there’s still no excuse. They had Georgia where they wanted them.
Ohio State needs to adjust or recruit players from a defense standpoint. After watching this game, they need to upgrade or reload their defense.
CJ Stroud completed 23 of 34 passes with four touchdowns and threw for 348 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. caught two touchdowns for 106 total yards. Stetson Bennett also completed 23 of 34 passes and threw for 398 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
TCU and Georgia will face off in the National Championship game on Jan 9th. Georgia will have a chance to become the first team to defend its national title since Alabama in 2011-12.
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