Ohio State football: Peach Bowl could be a program-changing game
The Ohio State football team is about a week away from a Peach Bowl matchup with Georgia. This could be a program-defining game.
The Ohio State football program and head coach Ryan Day have been taking their fair share of criticism over the past month. A second consecutive loss to Michigan, a lackluster recruiting cycle, and problems with NIL have all taken their toll on the program.
The Buckeyes lost out on at least four five-star recruits which would have led to a program-changing recruiting class. Instead, they only have one five-star in receiver Brandon Inniss. The juice just is not there with the program right now and Ryan Day needs to figure out a way to get it back.
The easiest way to get that juice flowing again is with a win against Georgia next week in the Peach Bowl. This could be a program-defining game for the Buckeyes. A win can catapult them back to the top of the college football Mount Rushmore with Alabama and Georgia. A loss could further their slide downward.
Make no mistake, this game on New Year’s Eve is absolutely huge. It is not just a ‘glad to be here’ type of game. And if that’s how Ohio State players feel, they’re going to get blown off the field and embarrassed. This game is big for Ryan Day’s legacy, for C.J. Stroud’s legacy, and most importantly for the program at large. This game is a golden opportunity for Ohio State to show they belong.
Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles need to bring their ‘A game.’ They need to be aggressive at the right times. They need to dictate how the flow of the game is going to go. They need a victory.
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When Ohio State takes the field on New Year’s Eve, those players might be playing for the future of Ohio State football. An embarrassing loss could drag the Buckeyes back significantly on the college football totem pole. I hope they take this matchup seriously and come out swinging.