Funviralpark No drama took place in the CFP semi-finals. Because Ohio’s CJ Stroud led the Buckeyes down the field for the game-winning field goal attempt. The drive stalled at the Georgia 32, Noah Ruggles 50 yards and his kick went wide left, sealing his 42–41 Peach Bowl victory for the Bulldogs.
The top-seeded Bulldogs will face No. 3-seeded Texas Christians in the CFP Title Game on January 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
If the Bulldogs win there, it would be the ultimate career end for former scout team quarterback Bennett.
Stroud, a Heisman Trophy finalist like Bennett, was notable. However, Bennett had the final say, throwing for 398 yards and three touchdowns. Nothing was more important than a spin to Mitchell in the endzone corner.
Stroud completed 23 of 34 passes for 348 yards and 4 points. It wasn’t good enough.
The Bulldogs didn’t have to deal with a deficit as big as the one they faced Saturday night. Georgia fell into the 14-point hole twice, the second time they were 38-24 late in the third quarter.
A sophomore but already one of the best receivers in the nation, Marvin Harrison Jr. grabbed two of Stroud’s touchdown passes in a first half when the Buckeyes surged. These receivers, combined with Stroud’s knowledge, were the engines of the Buckeyes’ offense and they were successful against the best defenses they faced all season.
Georgia cut Ohio State’s comfortable lead to 38–35 with Ariane Smith’s 76-yard touchdown grab and a successful pass to Rudd McConkie for a 2-point conversion. With 8:41 remaining in the game, with Stroud and the offense on the field, the standout quarterback led the Buckeyes to the end his zone but failed to finish. Ruggles hit a 48-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a shaky 6-point lead. And Bennett jumped at the opportunity.
Ohio State advances to the playoffs. The last time the Buckeyes took the field they looked vulnerable and Michigan beat them in the fourth quarter. It was forced to stay home for the weekend and then resorted to Southern California’s crushing loss in the Pac-12 title game to qualify for the playoffs.
Despite the deficiencies exposed by Ohio State’s biggest rivals, especially the explosive play-enabled defense, the Buckeyes have one of the few rosters in the country to match Georgia’s talent. Both programs are in a special tier that draws five-star prospects to campus each year and their brands attract new hires across the country. These players gave Ohio State a chance and the ability to hold the lead for most of the game, but Georgia won.
After ending the program’s title drought last year, the Bulldogs are back strong this season. The game against Missouri was his only scare, with his 4-point loading his win requiring a strong defensive effort in the 4th quarter. His SEC title his game with LSU raised concerns about Georgia’s pass his defense, but the Bulldogs still won by 20 points behind him. But the most important thing is the next game. Because this season will either end up with a national title or be remembered as the year the Bulldogs failed.
