By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer, and staff
ATLANTA – A little over a month after a loss to Michigan in their regular season finale, the Buckeyes are reveling in a new lease on life as they get ready to play a College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 1 Georgia
“We’re back in it, we got a chance to, you know, do what we set out to do at the beginning of the year,” senior defensive end Zach Harrison of Lewis Center said.
Playing for a shot at the national championship in the Peach Bowl, Ohio State players have tried to move past their 45-23 loss to rival Michigan on Nov. 26.
“At the end of the season, everyone was like, ‘Man, what I would do to have another chance,’ and we have the other chance,” said junior offensive lineman Paris Johnson, Jr.
55th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: (4) OHIO STATE (11-1) vs. (1) Georgia (13-0); Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.; Dec. 31 (8:00 p.m./ESPN)
The fourth-ranked Buckeyes say the loss has left them cast as the underdogs against Georgia, the defending national champion and six-point favorites in the game.
Ohio State has lost to Michigan in back-to-back seasons, and clearly last month’s ugly defeat left a mark with players.
“We feel like it’s always been Ohio against the world,” defensive end Jack Sawyer said Wednesday. “We feel like that’s never going to change. So throughout this whole month of bowl prep, our defense has been playing very (angry) in practice, I think the whole team as a whole has been. And I think that’s where we need to be. And like I said, we’re just really focused and really eager to get back on the field Saturday night.”
Sawyer and two defensive teammates, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and safety Lathan Ransom, each gave one-word “yeah” answers when asked if they’re tired of talking about Michigan. Eichenberg was asked if the Georgia offense reminded him of any Big Ten team.
“Probably wouldn’t say anyone really,” Eichenberg said. “You probably want me to say some team, but I’m not gonna.”
After Sawyer noted Georgia has strong tight ends, like Penn State, Ransom took his turn answering the question.
“Yeah. I feel like y’all know the answer to that, but I’m fixing to just say Penn State, too,” Ransom said with a laugh.
Defense was a strength before Ohio State (11-1) allowed 530 yards in the loss.
“It’s definitely made this team tighter,” Eichenberg said. “We were down for a little bit, and then we all came back together and we got stronger. We have each other, and that’s all we need.”
Williams sidelined?
Ohio State running back Miyan Williams missed much of practice this week with a stomach bug, and there’s also the question of an ankle injury he sustained last month against Indiana.
Williams sat out one game and had only eight carries for 34 yards in the loss to Michigan.
He’ll be going against a Georgia defense that has allowed just 77 rushing yards per game, best in the nation.
Buckeye fans from birth
In honor of the Peach Bowl game between the Buckeyes and the University of Georgia Bulldogs, every baby born this week at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is wrapped in their own Beat Georgia swaddle.
Approximately 5,300 Buckeye babies are born each year at the medical center in Columbus.