by ATLANTA—CJ Stroud has endured tougher days than this.
After all, it’s just a sport. There is life outside the arena. Stroud knows this more than anyone – a childhood rocked by his father’s incarceration that led to financial hardship in his family and a belated career.
And yet, right now, after breaking through one of the best defenses in the nation, after setting up his team for a rousing upset, after positioning Ohio State for a trip to the national championship game, his dream football was broken.
Noah Ruggles’ 50-yard field goal attempt snagged low and to the left of the goal posts to give the Georgia Bulldogs a 42-41 victory over Stroud and his Buckeyes in Saturday’s Peach Bowl – a frantic end for the one of the most exciting CFP matches in the event’s historic nine-year history.
If Ruggles’ kick had split the uprights, if the Buckeyes defense hadn’t retreated, Stroud would have been the MVP. He would have been a hero breaking through the defense of coach Kirby Smart and co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp for 348 passing yards, four touchdowns and multiple kicks escaping the sack.
Noah Ruggles missed a last-second field goal that would have given Ohio State a win over Georgia in the CFP National Semifinals.
John Bazemore/AP
Instead, he’s the loser of one of the most memorable college or NFL playoff games, and this will likely be his last outing in Scarlet and Gray.
Emotional and downtrodden at the postgame press conference, a red-eyed Stroud stepped in to defend Ohio State coach Ryan Day on several occasions, a clear and obvious attempt to appease the whispers about Day’s ability despite his overall record (45–6).
“We kept swinging, like our [program’s] culture,” Stroud said. “I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else.”
Asked about his successful game plan against Georgia, Day said: “It’s all good games when you have good players.”
And then Stroud interrupted him.
“I will be her man,” he said. “Great game plan. Without the right game [calls]You can not play.
Ohio State (11-2) also held a 21-7 lead in the second quarter and 38-24 by the end of the third quarter. Stroud and Co. seemed destined to weed out the best in the SEC, perfectly positioned to oust the defending champions.
And then it all happened quickly, with the Buckeyes backing off at the most important moments with three major blunders:
- Safety Lathan Ransom twisted and slipped on coverage for Georgia receiver Adonai Mitchell, who was then left wide open for a 76-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
- In the next series, Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McCalister couldn’t stay close enough to Georgia receiver Kearis Jackson, who split defensive backs for a 35-yard reception to put the Bulldogs inside the red zone.
- The dagger came on the same series a few plays later, when cornerback Denzel Burke succumbed to an inside move from Mitchell. The receiver was left open for the eventual game-winning dart delivered by Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.
“We dropped explosive games again,” Day said. “We did it and it’s something we spent a lot of time talking about – avoiding the big play. I think the difference was in this game, it didn’t demoralize us. We kept swinging and fighting and we kept going. But yeah, I mean, call it what it is, you know – if we’re going to win these games, we can’t give up on these big, explosive plays.
First-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his unit gave up 14 plays of 15 or more yards, including four plays of at least 35 yards. Georgia had nearly half its total yardage (210) over those four games, an all-too-familiar refrain for the Buckeyes. In four CFP losses, the Ohio State defense has been its pet peeve. The Buckeyes gave up 31 points (Clemson in 2016), 29 points (Clemson in 19) and 52 points (Alabama in 20) before Saturday night’s 42 points.
“Definitely some plays we can run better,” Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison said. “We could have been in a better position.
Stroud completed 23 of 34 passes for 348 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Peach Bowl.
Brynn Anderson/AP
There have been significant plays that have cost the Buckeyes. In the second quarter, Ohio State tight end Mitch Rossi was flagged for illegal movement on a play in which Stroud converted on a fourth down. Then, in the fourth quarter, they appeared to convert a fake punt before Smart called timeout just before the snap. Instead of continuing practices, both of those games ended in punts. Georgia scored on the next two drives.
Defensive lapses and the crushing loss shattered what could have been, including a homecoming for the Buckeyes’ star quarterback. The title game between Georgia and TCU will take place at SoFi Stadium. Stroud is originally from the Los Angeles area.
He was splendid against Georgia, throwing the ball deep, shooting darts from mid-range and using his feet to pick up critical distances. In the final minutes, Stroud did so without his primary target. Marvin Harrison Jr., who had five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter after a blow to the head.
But Stroud again used his legs to put the Buckeyes in position for the game-winning field goal. Down with about 30 seconds left, he ran 27 yards on a twisty, tackle-dodged run to Georgia’s 31-yard line. Then, in a three-game streak that will be sorely remembered in Columbus for years, the Buckeyes lost a yard on first down and Stroud threw incomplete passes on second and third downs.
“I wouldn’t change that call,” Day said when asked about the first down.
Interjected Stroud: “Good call. Great call!”
“There were a lot of plays in the game that you wish you had back as coaches and players,” Day said. “But I told the guys I’m proud of how they competed.”
No one could argue with that assessment with Stroud responding to his detractors on the biggest stage with a performance for the ages.
“I tried to leave it all in play,” Stroud said. “Games like this, you’re at a loss for words.”
