C.J. Stroud makes declaration, however Stetson Bennett, Georgia get last laugh

ATLANTA — This wasn’t the method Ohio State hoped to ring in the New Year.

At the stroke of midnight, kicker Noah Ruggles missedouton a possible game-winning 50-yard field objective that would haveactually sentout the Buckeyes to the nationwide champion videogame. Instead, Georgia left with a 42-41 triumph and now formally gets to protect its title versus TCU on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Here are 3 fast ideas on an legendary Peach Bowl:

Georgia will play for another nationwide champion

The story surrounding Georgia heading into the CFP was that, if it won a 2nd successive title, this would signal a altering of the guard in the sport. 

Kirby Smart developed Georgia in his image, an identity he established and refined while working as an assistant and winning titles with Nick Saban at Alabama. This Bulldogs group is regularly one that’s physically enforcing and stingy on defense with a must-win mindset that everyyear puts gamers into the NFL. Just like the Crimson Tide.

The Bulldogs beat the Tide to win it all last year, and are attempting to endedupbeing the veryfirst program to win back-to-back titles consideringthat Saban did it with Bama in 2011 and2012 Winning 2 nationwide champions in a row is an extremely unusual accomplishment. And Ohio State almost made sure that didn’t occur.

There have just been 6 groups to ever repeat as straight-out nationwide champs giventhat the AP Poll started in1936 Now, Georgia might be the seventh as it prepares to face the Horned Frogs.

Is Ohio State at a crossroads?

For the past 5 weeks, ever consideringthat Ohio State lost to Michigan for the 2nd straight time, the program has had to response all kinds of concerns about The Game. Even this week in Atlanta, Day and his gamers were asked concerns about the Wolverines.

What were those days and weeks like after the loss? How hard was it to equipment up for this semifinal match versus Georgia after that Michigan loss? How would you feel about playing Michigan in the nationwide champion? 

Stuff like that.

Ohio State’s reaction in this videogame would be informing. Would this group program up still beat or more determined? Day stated he felt his group had an edge at practice this week. Was that for genuine or simply coach speak?

Turns out it was for genuine. The Buckeyes were the more dominant side all night and almost pulled off a enormous upset in the last minutes. 

It definitely felt like they were going to put an end — albeit mostlikely simply quickly — to any evenmore Michigan line of questioning. Sure, they hadn’t beaten their archrival in 2 years, however they were going to have an chance to guideline over all of college football, not simply the Big Ten. Would that haveactually been sufficient to swing the balance of power of the conference back in their favor?

Now we’ll neverever understand. 

Ohio State loses, however C.J. Stroud makes a declaration

The Ohio State quarterback was asked a lot about tradition earlier in the week. Did he requirement to beat Michigan to cement himself as one of the finest quarterbacks in program history — even however he currently is? Let’s keepinmind that heading into the CFP semifinal, Stroud was a two-time Big Ten offensive gamer of the year and Heisman Trophy finalist, and had tossed for 7,775 lawns and 81 goals, great adequate to be 2nd on the Buckeyes’ all-time leader list behind previous quarterback J.T. Barrett.

In the loss to Georgia, he went 23-for-34 for 348 lawns and 4 goals without any interceptions, though he was sacked 4 times.

Stroud was exceptional versus one of the finest defenses in the nation. He was surgical, selecting on a secondary led by cornerback Kelee Ringo, and primarily averting a defensive front that included star defensive takeon Jalen Carter.

He even had a possibility to lead Ohio State to success in the last minute. After Georgia took a one-point lead with 54 seconds left, the videogame was in Stroud’s hands. He made wise plays, like a 27-yard scramble to the UGA 31-yard line. And he tossed the ball away on 3rd down when Georgia put on an full-blown blitz, setting up the field objective effort.

Stroud hasactually been slammed for the last 2 years and hasactually taken it all in stride. He maturely took duty for the Michigan loss, even however Day guaranteed him it did not fall on him. His efficiency versus Georgia on Saturday night was definitely worthwhile sufficient to sendout his group to the nationwide champion videogame. The Buckeyes simply fell brief.

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Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She formerly composed for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” released in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.