Ryan Day, Buckeyes feel urgency behind second chance at CFP

COLUMBUS, OHIO » Ohio State didn’t get to control its playoff destiny after losing to rival Michigan at the end of the regular season. No matter.

The Buckeyes are in the postseason, and they’re yearning for redemption.

Coach Ryan Day said the

No. 4 Buckeyes had productive practices last week and realize the opportunity they have in front of them with a semifinals showdown against top-ranked Georgia.

“I think the guys have really had good urgency about them,” Day said Tuesday. “We’re going to start making the transition into game planning here soon and then we get down to bowl week, so we have three phases when we talk about bowl practice, but the energy has been really, really good.”

The Buckeyes took the back door into the College Football Playoff, benefiting from USC’s second loss this year to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship game.

Defending-champion Georgia will host Ohio State on New Year’s Eve in its own backyard. The Bulldogs bring the No. 2 scoring defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision into the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

They allow teams to score under 13 points per game.

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter is a big reason why. The 2022 AP All-America First Team selection leads Georgia’s top-ranked rushing defense that has held opponents to 77 yards per game.

“One of the best football players in the country, and you can see it,” Day said. “He’s very, very productive, so it’ll be a big challenge for our guys up front and we’ll have to know exactly where he is.”

Aside from AP All-America Second Team tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and

Dawand Jones, Day said Ohio State’s combination of guard and center along the offensive line will be the key to opening up running lanes and protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud.

“That’ll be a big part of the game for sure is winning the game up front like it always is, but certainly on the interior it’s going to be even more amplified,” Day said.