It’s a holiday that hasn’t been kind to the Buckeyes.
The debate over whether sports curses are real is always interesting among sports fans. As someone who grew up in Cincinnati and still lives in the Queen City, I can tell you what it was like to live through excruciating losses by the Bengals, Reds, and Bearcats. Those losses make you think the city is cursed when it comes to sports.
Unfortunately, Ohio State fans may be thinking there’s a curse associated with the football program, but not one that has prevented them from winning national championships. It’s the fact that the Buckeyes have lost their last three College Football Playoff games played on New Year’s Eve.
When the bracket was unveiled, and it was announced that the Buckeyes were going to play on New Year’s Eve, I got nervous.
First of all, I don’t like New Year’s Eve games. New Year’s Eve is a holiday where my family usually goes to dinner, so now I have a high-stress, high-stakes game to hyper-focus on.
But I was nervous because the Buckeyes had lost twice before Wednesday night in the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve. Now, make it three.
I kept convincing myself not to worry about New Year’s Eve, not to worry about Miami, that the Buckeyes would cruise to a win and set up a matchup with, likely, Georgia, in the Semifinals. Oh, that’s the other thing — Ole Miss beat Georgia in the Quarterfinals on New Year’s Day.
The last three times the Buckeyes have played on New Year’s Eve in the College Football Playoff, they have lost.
In 2016, they played Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. Both teams were talented, but Clemson whitewashed Ohio State 31-0. Tyler Durbin missed two field goals, just as the Buckeyes did against Michigan, and this time the Buckeyes couldn’t cover him.
J.T. Barrett threw for just 127 yards and two interceptions, while the Tigers out-rushed Ohio State 205-88 and outgained them 470-215. Three turnovers and eight penalties also didn’t help.
Then there was 2022, in the Peach Bowl against Georgia.
Ohio State wasn’t given much of a chance, but early on, it looked like they might actually pull off the upset. The Buckeyes led 38-24 going into the fourth quarter, but their defense allowed 18 fourth-quarter points, allowing Georgia to take a 42-41 lead.
We all know how that game and night ended. C.J. Stroud’s 348 passing yards were for naught, as were Marvin Harrison’s two touchdowns and 100+ receiving yards. Had the Buckeyes held on, they would have played TCU in the national championship. They would have beaten them handily.
Three days ago, the most dominant team in college football was shockingly eliminated in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals. Jeremiah Smith won’t get his shot at playing for a repeat national championship in his hometown of Miami.
Buckeyes’ fans aren’t happy about Ryan Day, again. Not to mention, this was on New Year’s Eve.
Seeing Miami and Ole Miss play in the Semifinals on Thursday will be… weird. That should be the Buckeyes. It’s not.
Once again, New Year’s Eve hasn’t been kind to this program. Is it a curse for them to play on New Year’s Eve in the College Football Playoff? Fans can debate if it is.
They’re not wrong, though, to think so.
Category: General Sports
