Ohio State’s Kicker Misses Would-Be Game-Winner Against Georgia in Closing Seconds

The Buckeyes’ kicker missed wide left on the field goal that would have lifted the program to the CFP national title game.

At the start of the fourth quarter of Saturday’s CFP National Semifinal between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State, the Bulldogs trailed the Buckeyes, 38-24. 

Georgia, however, rallied to erase a 14-point deficit and outscore the Buckeyes, 18-3, including Stetson Bennett throwing a 76-yard touchdown pass to Arian Smith and orchestrating a five-play, 72-yard drive that was capped with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Adonai “AD” Mitchell. 

Even with Georgia holding a 42-41 lead, Ohio State still had a chance to win.

But after Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud put the Buckeyes in Bulldogs’ territory, kicker Noah Ruggles missed wide left on a 50-yard field goal, securing the win for Georgia. 

Take a look. 

GEORGIA IS HEADED BACK TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP‼️ pic.twitter.com/9zENcba88W

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023

With the win, Georgia punched its ticket to the national title game on Jan. 9 against TCU at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.