Georgia’s timeout before Ohio State’s fake punt has been one of the most talked about plays from the Peach Bowl, as Kirby Smart nullified what would have been a first-down pickup for the Buckeyes. As it turns out, there’s more to the story. <\/p>\n
\tWith less than nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Ohio State led Georgia 38-27 but faced fourth-and-1 at its own 34-yard line after a three-and-out possession. Ryan Day, appearing as if he wanted to play the field position game, called for Jesse Mirco and the punt team to take the field. But instead of Mirco punting, Mitch Rossi took a direct snap for a first down to keep the Buckeyes’ drive alive.\n<\/p>\n
\tNot so fast.\n<\/p>\n
\tReferees blew their whistles at the same time Rossi advanced toward the line of scrimmage. Smart’s timeout was called a split-second before the ball was snapped. After the stoppage, the Bulldogs were ready for the fake, forcing Day and the Buckeyes to take their lumps and boot the ball away to Georgia.\n<\/p>\n
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\t\tNow that was a [Smart] timeout #CFBPlayoff<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/33MmNM0FvP<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\u2014 ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\tThat sequence of events of Ohio State’s fake punt that could have been and Smart’s heroics in the Peach Bowl was the whole story as many understood it as the game came to a close and the Bulldogs advanced to their second consecutive national championship with a 42-41 win over the Buckeyes.\n<\/p>\n
\tBut as college football analysts, reporters and fans began their rewatches of the CFP semifinal, some noticed that Ohio State’s fake punt may not have worked even if Smart’s timeout was not called, as screen captures of the game revealed the Buckeyes had 12 players on the field for the play.\n<\/p>\n
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\t\tKirby Smart sniffs out the fake punt and calls timeout pic.twitter.com\/1WymuuuY6f<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\u2014 alex (@highlghtheaven) January 1, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\tIf properly called by the Pac-12 officiating crew, Ohio State would have been penalized for having too many men on the field, which would have negated Rossi’s successful run for a first down if Smart’s timeout was not called.\n<\/p>\n
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\tHowever, Ohio State may have gotten away with the penalty, as a flag for too many men traditionally comes before the ball is snapped as a dead-ball foul. In this instance, Rossi surpassed the line to gain and would have given his team a fresh set of downs without any laundry thrown by an official.\n<\/p>\n
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\tRegardless of whether or not officials detected the Buckeyes’ advantage, Ohio State’s effort to trick Georgia was thwarted by Smart before it took place.\n<\/p>\n
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\t\tKirby Smart on his timeout call for Ohio State’s fake punt: pic.twitter.com\/fsli8omPdP<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n