A single missed kick defined the 2022 Ohio State Buckeyes' high-stakes championship pursuit
In short: In their 133rd season, the Ohio State Buckeyes navigated a high-pressure campaign under head coach Ryan Day. Despite a late-season stumble against their fiercest rival, they secured a spot in the College Football Playoff, only to see their national championship dreams vanish on a final, agonizingly close field goal attempt.
The 2022 season marked a significant chapter for the Ohio State University football program, representing their 110th year as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Playing out of Ohio Stadium in Columbus, the team entered the year with high expectations under the leadership of Ryan Day, who was serving his fourth season as head coach. The squad's internal composition was fluid throughout the year, as the program saw 20 players depart through the transfer portal, while three new players were added to the roster.
The team's trajectory faced a major turning point on November 26, when the Buckeyes entered a high-stakes matchup against the undefeated Michigan Wolverines. Despite their own undefeated status, the Buckeyes suffered a 45–23 defeat, their second consecutive loss to their primary rival. This outcome threatened their postseason aspirations, but a subsequent loss by the USC Trojans to the Utah Utes provided an unexpected opening. Ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff poll, Ohio State was granted a spot in the Peach Bowl to face the defending national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Peach Bowl semifinal became a defining moment of the season. In a tightly contested battle, the game ultimately hinged on a 50-yard field goal attempt by Noah Ruggles. When the kick missed on the final offensive play, the Buckeyes fell 42–41 to the eventual repeat champions. This narrow defeat concluded a season that had begun months earlier with the annual Spring Game on April 16, where the offense, playing as the Scarlet team, defeated the defense, known as the Gray team, by a score of 34–26. The loss in the Peach Bowl underscored the razor-thin margins that often dictate the outcome of elite collegiate football seasons.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
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