Ohio State Football: Three keys to beating Georgia in Peach Bowl
By Ryan Stano
3. The Ohio State football team can’t take any stupid penalties.
One of the biggest mistakes that the Buckeyes made against Michigan was getting called for stupid penalties. They got called for 9 penalties that totaled up 91 yards, and those were just the ones that got accepted. These penalties killed any chance Ohio State had to win.
After Ohio State got great field position near midfield, the Buckeyes got called for holding on a pass play that would’ve given them another first down. On the same play, Gee Scott Jr. had a stupid unsportsmanlike penalty for headbutting a Michigan player.
That put the Buckeyes in an unfathomable 1st-and-35 situation. That killed the drive before it even started. Ohio State absolutely cannot have that issue against Georgia. Stupid unsportsmanlike penalties will give Georgia an advantage they don’t need.
The secondary also needs to avoid untimely pass interference penalties. Ohio State had some of those in the second half of that game as well. Basically, Ryan Day needs to make sure his team is disciplined coming into this game. Penalties have a chance to end any chance at an upset bid.
I think it’s unrealistic to expect the Buckeyes to have zero penalties in the Peach Bowl. But I do think it’s acceptable to expect no unsportsmanlike fouls. Those 15-yard penalties are not something a team going up against the undefeated national champions can afford.
Next. Ryan Day gives bizarre reason for not playing Dallan Hayden vs. TTUN. dark
If the Ohio State football team can do these three things, they have a shot to pull the upset on Georgia and play for a national championship.