It is impossible to know for sure.
But a compelling case can be made that Ohio State would head to Los Angeles for a shot at a national championship next week if Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t go down in the third quarter of the playoff semifinals of Saturday’s college football in Atlanta.
By then, the Buckeyes had amassed 319 passing yards and four scores through the air, of which Harrison contributed 105 yards and two touchdowns. On the next play after Harrison’s injury, Ohio State threw a field goal to take a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The Buckeyes strike first. CJ Stroud to Marvin Harrison Jr. pic.twitter.com/Td9Tu6OGQM
– Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2023
CJ Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr. are cooking. pic.twitter.com/6gn1CPem4R
– Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2023
From that point on, the Buckeyes had just 29 passing yards and three extra points, allowing Georgia to outscore them by 15 in the final period to steal a one-point win and a berth in the game. for the national title.
A chilling blow to Harrison’s head and neck delivered by Georgia defensive back Javon Bullard — and Harrison’s subsequent collision of the head with the turf — may have changed college football history. Ryan Day confirmed after the game that Harrison suffered a concussion on the play, which left him unable to return. What followed was Ohio State’s lowest game quarter. It happened at the worst possible time.
It hurt a lot. Fourth quarter, college football playoffs, chance to go to the national championship? I mean, I wish I could be there for my teammates and do my best to help,” Harrison said after Ohio State lost 42-41 in the fishing bowl.
Even if the hit on Harrison had been settled differently, the outcome of the game might have changed. In real time, Bullard’s hit on Harrison to break a high arc from Stroud to the end zone seemed like an obvious targeting call. Harrison’s immediate physical reaction made it look like he could have been knocked unconscious by the blow, given his stiff appearance and fencing reaction.
A targeting penalty would have given the Buckeyes another round of downs and the ball halfway to the goal line after a play that was broken from Georgia’s 7-yard line. Instead, there was no targeting call and Ohio State faced 4th and 7th. The Buckeyes were forced to throw a field goal rather than get another series to score a touchdown on the Bulldog’s gate.
No targeting was called for that shot on Marvin Harrison Jr. The Ohio State wide receiver was sidelined after being treated by medical personnel. pic.twitter.com/rSIo0ZRe2M
– Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2023
At Day’s postgame press conference, the fourth-year head coach said the referees explained their reasoning for the lack of a targeting foul. When asked to explain his comments on the matter, Day said he would have to reconsider the thoughts before coming to an informed conclusion on the matter.
“I was told it wasn’t targeted, he didn’t shoot in the head, which is tough – I didn’t see it, so I don’t know,” Day said. “But to have a concussion and not get hit in the head, I would have to see the replay. And they said it happened after he got hit, but I’d have to watch the video. I couldn’t see the replay.
Harrison remained on the field for a few minutes before being escorted to the medical tent. Afterwards, Harrison returned to the bench but didn’t have his helmet in his hand – a sign his night was over.
Harrison said he made an effort to get back into the game, but eventually figured out why the medical staff held him off for the rest.
Of course (I tried to go back). I mean, I did my best. I wanted to be out there with my team,” Harrison said. Like I said, I respect the coach’s decision. In the end, they are just watching over my health. So I really tried to fight. … Obviously they knew I wanted to get back into the game.”
Harrison said it was not the first time he had suffered a concussion in his football career and Saturday’s incident was a “similar situation” to one he had experienced in the past. Still, Harrison said he felt well enough to return to the field if medical staff allowed him to.
“I think I felt good. I think I felt good enough to get back into the game,” Harrison said. to earn.”
But that didn’t happen, and Harrison had to watch helplessly as the two-touchdown lead he helped build shrank to nothing in the fourth quarter. Buckeye’s offense, especially the passing game, just wasn’t the same without his primary receiving target.
And many onlookers, including Day and Harrison, will wonder how things might have been different had No. 18 been on the pitch for the game’s biggest moments.
“To say that losing Marv didn’t impact the game, it absolutely did,” Day said. “What this guy did and how he competed in the second half with all these things happening to him, I can’t say enough. I’m so proud of the way he played.
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