For Ohio State, the New Year couldn’t have started worse than this, with the clock literally striking midnight on their season.
The Buckeyes blew their late 41-35 lead over the Georgia Bulldogs in the Peach Bowl, falling behind by a point with 54 seconds to go. With an opportunity to re-take the lead, down 42-41 with six seconds left, the 2022 College Football Playoff’s most signature moment came as the Times Square ball was about to drop on New Year’s Eve, officially ringing in 2023.
Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles absolutely shanked what would’ve been the game-winning 50-yard field goal, and it happened exactly as the clock struck midnight.
On the other side, it couldn’t have been better for Georgia, who will enter the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday, Jan. 9 against TCU, who defeated Michigan in the other semifinal. Georgia enters the heavyweight showdown as an early double-digit favorite.
Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles (95) misses the game-winning field goal during a College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia on Dec. 31, 2022. Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesOhio State led by two touchdowns late in the third quarter before the Bulldogs outscored them 18-3 in the fourth. Riggles had made field goals of 25 and 48 yards earlier in the game and converted all five of his extra-point attempts before the late miss.
