It is a very different role for Ohio State (11-1), the rare occasion when it is an underdog.
Hall of Famer’s son Marvin Harrison Jr. making own impact as a receiver
Ohio State lost its last game, 45-23, to bitter rival Michigan and needed a USC loss in the Pac-12 title game to receive a playoff invitation as the fourth and final seed. It has played uneven football frequently this year, struggling with the likes of Northwestern and Maryland. Two of its most talented players, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson, won’t be available.
Still, the Buckeyes lost just once, and outplayed Michigan for large stretches in that defeat. They are among the nation’s leaders in scoring offense and defense, and in Stroud, they boast the country’s most efficient quarterback. They have, however, heard for weeks that they don’t stand a chance against Georgia, and that has resulted in what several players described as an “edge” in practice. A determination to prove they belong and erase the painful memory of the ugly loss to Michigan.
“We know what we need to in this game to win, and that’s the way this month has been at practice every day,” head coach Ryan Day said. “There’s been an edge. There’s been friction. There’s been conflict. There’s been a lot of that going on, and that’s a healthy thing., so we’re going to let it all out. We’re going to play as hard as we possibly can and look up after four quarters and see where we’re at.
Ryan Day is fine with no one giving his Buckeyes squad a chance to beat Georgia, viewing it as opportunity.There are similarities to Ohio State’s 2014 national championship team that reached the playoff amid a controversial decision by the committee — some felt TCU was more deserving — and was a touchdown underdog to SEC powerhouse Alabama. The Buckeyes changed everyone’s mind by knocking off the Crimson Tide, and then walloped Oregon for their most recent title.
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