Assessing Ohio State's most important matchup against Georgia
For Ohio State to prove it belongs in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes will need Marvin Harrison Jr. to have a big day in one of the biggest individual matchups of the CFP weekend.
ESPN revealed its ranking of the most impactful players during the playoff. Two of the top four will likely be lined up opposite each other often when Ohio State faces Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday.
ESPN's Matt Miller lists Harrison Jr. as the third-most important player in the CFP, while Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo ranks fourth.
It makes sense why the two would rank so high. Harrison Jr. was a Biletnikoff finalist who finished the regular season with catches 72 receptions, 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns.
QB C.J. Stroud had an immaculate 135.5 passer rating when targeting Harrison Jr.
As good as Harrison Jr. is in space as he was on that play, he's a physical receiver, too. Pro Football Focus reveals that he's had 29 contested targets this season, tied for 14th-most in college football. Among players with that many contested targets, his catch percentage (62.1 percent) is the best.
Ringo is a projected top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, per Tankathon. Per PFF, Ringo was targeted 64 times this season and allowed only 35 receptions for 478 yards while intercepting two passes. QBs had a below-average passer rating of 65.8 when targeting Ringo.
Among cornerbacks who were targeted at least 64 times, Ringo was one of two (NC State's Aydan White) to not allow a touchdown, via PFF.
If there's one knock against his game, it's that Ringo was flagged for eight penalties this season. As the numbers show, Harrison Jr. doesn't mind getting physical.
ESPN's David Pollack said the matchup between the two is one he's looking forward to when the teams meet, via Saturday Down South. "[Harrison Jr.]'s matchup against Kelee Ringo will go a long way in deciding the Peach Bowl. Can [Ringo] check him? Can he stay with Marvin Harrison?"
Per Oddschecker, the Bulldogs are 6.5-point favorites heading into the Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve. For the Buckeyes to keep it a one-score game, Harrison Jr. will need to win his one-on-one matchup.
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