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Ryan Day torn by Ohio State fans after Georgia loss despite CJ Stroud’s performance | News, Results, Highlights, Stats and Rumours

January 1, 2023
Victoria Angel

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 31: CJ Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes aims in the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

It’s hard to imagine CJ Stroud playing much better on Saturday night. And it still wasn’t enough against the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs.

Despite a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State couldn’t keep up with Georgia, losing forever 42-41 in a college football playoff semifinal.

ESPN @esp

GEORGIA TAKES THE LEAD WITH UNDER A MINUTE LEFT‼️

What. A game. #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/wuHbgnRkRz

The Buckeyes had a shot to win the game with just three seconds left, but Noah Ruggle’s 50-yard field goal attempt hooked wide of the target.

ESPN @esp

GEORGIA RETURNS TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP‼️ pic.twitter.com/9zENcba88W

Suffice it to say that Ohio State’s Twitter was in disarray after the heartthrob, which was Ohio State’s referee on the last ride:

Thor Nystrom @Thorku

What the heck was Ryan Day doing at the end of that sequence?

Scheil Kapadia @Sheil Kapadia

Incredible game.

Taking the ball out of CJ Stroud’s hands considering he had the team on his back all night would infuriate me if I were an Ohio State fan.

Stay aggressive until you are within chip shot range. A 50-yarder does not qualify.

Kendrick Perkins @Kendrick Perkins

Let’s not blame the missed field goal for why Ohio State lost the game!!! A lot happened in the last 9 minutes that decided this football game! real conversation.

Chris B. Brown @smart football

That ending sequence for Ohio State left a lot to be desired…you can’t really fault a college kicker for not hitting a 50-yarder from the left hash

Emmanuel Ah @Emmanuel Acho

Stroud had 5 yards, 12 yards, and 27 yards in 3 straight games. The ball was at Georgia’s 31, Ohio State had 2 timeouts.

Ohio State runs the ball and eventually kicks a FG off their 32 to lose the game 🤮. Just a disgusting way to end the game. Disgusting.

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie

Ryan Day did a great job in this game for about 59 minutes, then went conservative and set up his kicker for a 50-yarder from the left hash.

The game changed with Smart’s fake punt TO, which Harrison hit to knock him out of the game.

Les Bowen @Les Bowen

Ryan Day is not a great head coach.

Brandon Walker @BFW

This is on Ryan Day.

Parker Thun @ParkerThune

It’s also time to talk about Ryan Day.

With two timeouts in the bag, how do you get THESE Conservatives to the cusp of feasible field goal range?

It was an especially tough result for Stroud, who was brilliant, finishing 23 of 34 for 348 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.

ESPN @esp

OHIO STATE STRIKES FIRST 🎯

CJ Stroud ➡️ Marvin Harrison Jr for 6❗️ pic.twitter.com/MsWHE3DM1V

ESPN @esp

MARVIN. HARRISON. JR

A jump catch to extend the Buckeyes’ lead 💪 #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/8co0XnSAUw

ESPN College Football @ESPNCFB

CJ Stroud falls in his 4th TD pass of the night 🎯 pic.twitter.com/p6w83xC348

Perhaps as impressive as the throwing chops he displayed on Saturday was the playmaking ability he displayed with his legs as he rushed 34 yards and lengthened a series of plays after breaking the pocket.

But for all of his many impressive accomplishments throughout his college career, so much of the narrative around him has focused on what he wasn’t doing.

Didn’t beat Michigan. Has not yet won a Big Ten title. Has not yet won a college football playoff game. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, but never the winner. Not much of a runner or playmaker with his legs.

Stroud didn’t erase those narratives on Saturday, but he did make them seem unnecessarily negative. He was great, in a performance worthy of a future first-round pick in the NFL draft, and people took notice:

Dan Orlowski @danorlovsky7

Stroud has made real money so far

Jordan Schulz @Schultz_Report

Hopefully this will silence any CJ Stroud doubters. I can’t imagine how anyone can see that performance – against a phenomenal Georgia defense – and not see an NFL star. Special package of size, arm talent, athletics, mentality! ⭕️📈

Dec Bryant @DecBryant

CJ Stroud came to play!

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba

You play around and take Will Levis ahead of Young and Stroud if you want…

Daniel Jeremiah @MoveTheSticks

Slowing things down against the UGA defense isn’t easy. Stroud shows incredible calmness/balance and delivers shot after shot. Slow heartbeat. Big time impressed!

Matt Mueller @nfldraftscout

Stroud’s accuracy and touch are really good. Ball is on time and right where he needs to be.

Yes he has great WRs but he consistently helps them.

The difference between an upset win and a heartbreaking loss, however, was that Stroud and the Buckeyes were held to just three points in the crucial fourth quarter. Day must own some of it, despite hosting a coaching masterclass in the last 59 minutes.

That’s the cruelty of sport. Sometimes just a minute can define your legacy. Day and Stroud will feel the weight of this harsh truth for some time to come.

Day will have plenty of time to change his narrative going forward for Ohio State. Stroud will have the chance to do that in the NFL. But on Saturday night both had to lament what could have been.

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