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Ryan Day still not over non-targeting call a month after Peach Bowl

On3 imageby:Wes Blankenship•02/01/23
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Ohio State v Georgia
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 31: Javon Bullard #22 of the Georgia Bulldogs breaks up a pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the third quarter in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Ryan Day met with reporters for Ohio State’s National Signing Day press conference. While there is a lot to celebrate about the Buckeyes’ recruiting class, he still has some thoughts about losing to Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

Apparently, Day went on a fact-finding mission after Georgia’s 42-41 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

He still had to do some due diligence on the non-targeting call from Javon Bullard‘s hit on Marvin Harrison Jr.

I don’t fault Day for the effort.

The head coach has to stand up for his team and lay the groundwork for officials to treat his team fairly if they missed something.

The only thing is, all the officials he spoke with don’t believe they missed anything.

The officials in the game had a chance to review targeting and didn’t see what Ryan Day sees

ESPN’s in-game officiating analyst and former Big Ten referee Bill LeMonnier didn’t see it.

In the moment, it looked like it could be targeting. After the fact, everyone determined Javon Bullard led with his shoulder pad.

Chris Fowler makes that distinction in his call, as well.

There’s no denying that Marvin Harrison Jr. impacted the football game. Before Georgia focused on him exclusively, he gashed the Dawgs for two first-half touchdowns.

Then other Ohio State receivers leaked open as the Dawgs adjusted.

Even without that injury, this play from Bullard helped earn him the CFP Peach Bowl Semifinal’s defensive MVP award.

And even without making a play, Harrison Jr. stepped out of bounds before touching the ball, which could also be a penalty against Ohio State in that situation.

Ultimately, Ohio State had to kick a field goal

That made it 38-24 Ohio State heading to the 4th quarter. Georgia kept the margin within 14 points.

Ohio State, with no Harrison Jr. to impact the game, got outscored 18-3 in the final 15 minutes as Georgia won the game.

Many individual efforts and plays decided this incredible football game.

Brock Bowers‘s fourth-down reach.

AD Mitchell‘s game-winning grab.

Stetson Bennett‘s entire final drive.

David Daniel-Sisavanh‘s stop on CJ Stroud‘s long run to set up the Buckeyes’ field goal miss.

Ryan Day has every right to feel upset about the way it all played out. But blaming it on the refs in this non-targeting call – a month later – is an even more questionable call.

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