'We're hungry.' Ohio State arrives in Atlanta hoping for redemption in playoff
It was one month ago that Ohio State lost – again – to Michigan.
The Buckeyes haven't played since then, but plenty has happened.
Ohio State arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday evening for their College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl against Georgia. The Buckeyes fully expected all season to be in the CFP. Their route, though, wasn't the desired one.
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It's thanks to Utah's win over Southern California in the Pac-12 championship that Ohio State got a second chance.
Ohio State defensive tackle Taron Vincent: 'I think we're hungry'
It is a strange time for the Buckeyes. They are two victories away from their first national title in eight years. But these are anxious times for the program. Consecutive losses to Michigan don't sit well after two decades of dominance. The early national signing day was Wednesday, and while the Buckeyes had a strong class, momentum stalled at the end.
Now comes big, bad Georgia, the top seed and defending champion. Buckeye Nation might be as apprehensive as it is excited about the matchup against the Bulldogs in their backyard.
But the Buckeyes themselves are thrilled to get their chance after all seemed lost on Nov. 26.
“I think we're hungry,” senior defensive tackle Taron Vincent said. “That loss left a nasty feeling in our mouth, so I feel like everybody's hungry and just motivated to play.”
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That's what coach Ryan Day is counting on.
“We all have certain expectations and we all have goals,” he said, “and when you don't reach those goals, you have to identify what those things are to get them addressed. You recognize the things you've got to get better at.
“It also gives you a really good idea of where everybody's at in the program and where you stand. When things are going well, everybody's with you. When something goes wrong, you find out where people stand. I think we have a pretty good feel for that right now. But I can tell you that the guys in the program have been working their tails off the last month.”
Ohio State football holds intense practices leading up to Peach Bowl matchup against Georgia
Ohio State practiced the week after the Michigan game because Day wanted to keep his team sharp in case fortune fell their way. Practices have been intense.
“The intensity is a little different,” center Luke Wypler said. “The vibe is a little different. Everybody's kind of moving with a different sense of purpose.”
Day said he has seen “a good look in our guys' eyes.”
The Buckeyes have additional motivation to beat Georgia. A semifinal victory would set up a rematch against Michigan for the national title if the Wolverines beat underdog TCU in the other semifinal.
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Ohio State players are aware of that, but they didn't want to dwell on it. They understand that beating Georgia will require all their attention.
Day noted on signing day that only three seldom-used players – linebacker Teradja Mitchell and safeties Jaylen Johnson and Jantzen Dunn – have entered the transfer portal and said that's a sign that the program's culture remains strong.
“Years and seasons and life doesn't always go the way you plan,” he said. “It's about how you respond to it. That's what our focus is on right now. We're not going to overreact, as much as that (Michigan) loss hurts. It's not worth it. We have a game against Georgia ahead of us that we're focusing on.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football eager for redemption in CFP in Peach Bowl matchup
