Marvin Harrison Jr. vs Kelee Ringo most intriguing first half battle of Peach Bowl

Marvin Harrison Jr. emerged as a big-time receiver for Ohio State in 2022, and he’s been matched up against last year’s National Championship Game hero, Georgia defensive back, Kelee Ringo.

The individual matchups in a big-time college football game can become not only great for fans to watch, but they can also play a big part in deciding the game. We may have just such a matchup in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl playoff semifinal game.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has become a favorite target for quarterback CJ Stroud, and with good reason. Harrison has size, speed, length, and route-running ability that mirrors what his father used to do in the NFL.

The task of keeping Harrison under wraps for much of the first half has been handed to Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo, who picked off the Bryce Young pass in last year’s national championship game to seal the win for Georgia.

Ringo may wish he hadn’t drawn this duty, to be honest.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has early leg up on Kelee Ringo after first half of Peach Bowl

Harrison has had his way through the first half of the game, hauling in five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Neither Ringo or the rest of the Georgia secondary has found a way to keep the Ohio State standout in check.

It’s hard enough to cover a receiver like Harrison, but when there’s no pressure being put on the quarterback who can then take his time to find the open man, it becomes a nearly impossible task. Stroud has scrambled his way out of what pressure Georgia’s defense has mustered, and has been able to find Harrison at the most in opportune times for the Bulldogs.

Will the second half of the game be more of the same? Ringo may have to begin jamming Harrison at the line more rather than playing off with a 10-yard cushion at the snap. Ringo may have to get some help from the Georgia safeties as well.

Without being able to keep Harrison in check, Georgia will need to match Ohio State on offense and keep the game from getting out of hand.

The Buckeyes and Bulldogs went into the second half of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with Ohio State leading, 28-24.

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