Now that we have the College Football Playoff field all set, everyone and their brother has their thoughts and beliefs of who is going to come out on top. While the No. 3-seeded Georgia Bulldogs can absolutely win their next three games to become national champions, there is a chance they may come up short of the ultimate prize for the third season in a row. However, it will not be for this reason.
In Adam Rittenberg's playoff bracket projection post for ESPN, he has No. 3 Georgia winning the Sugar Bowl over No. 6 Ole Miss 31-21 before falling to No. 2 Ohio State 19-16 in the Fiesta Bowl. While those margins and outcomes are all plausible, how Rittenberg got to his conclusion that Ohio State was going to beat Georgia by this final score was completely and utterly asinine. No way, man!
Rittenberg actually wrote the following in his blurb about Georgia falling to Ohio State in Glendale.
"I'm not expecting many points but Ohio State finds a few more, as kickerJayden Fielding redeems himself after the Big Ten title game miss."
Fielding missed a chip shot in crunch time to tie it up vs. Indiana in the Big Ten title bout. He is cooked.
Georgia is not going to lose to Ohio State because of Jayden Fielding
If Georgia advances past either Ole Miss or No. 11 Tulane in the Sugar Bowl to take on presumably Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, they may have had an easier go of it in the national quarterfinals than the Buckeyes. Georgia will face the winner of Ole Miss vs. Tulane. Both will have new coaches next year. Ohio State will take on the winner of No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M over in the Cotton Bowl.
In short, Ohio State may be more tested coming into the national semifinal than Georgia will be by its national quarterfinal opponent. Georgia and Ohio State are probably the two likeliest teams to win this year's College Football Playoff, as they have the depth and experience on their side that other contenders like Indiana, Oregon, and Texas Tech may not have. But to lose because of Fielding is zany.
Overall, it would be so beyond hilarious for Georgia to beat Ohio State in the national semifinals for the second time in four years because of Ohio State's kicking woes. If you care to remember, Georgia won the 2022 Peach Bowl over Ohio State to advance to the national title bout because Noah Ruggles shanked his 50-yarder. Fielding struggles to hit kicks inside of 40. What are we doing here?!
In the end, Ohio State can definitely beat Georgia, based on the talent they have at key positions such as wide receiver, linebacker, and in the defensive backfield. Julian Sayin is a strong quarterback as well, but he is a total statue back there. To be quite frank, it may come down to special teams. Georgia is proficient in that department, whereas Ohio State will occasionally leave something to be desired.
If points are at a premium in that supposed semifinal, Fielding is not going to be the one making them.