GLENDALE, Ariz.— When the clock struck double-zeros, and the confetti shot out purple and orange, it signaled the end of Ohio State’s season.
- Star running back J.K. Dobbins was emotional after the loss
- Center Josh Myers says this one is extremely hard to stomach
- Head Coach Ryan Day says the difference in the game was just a couple of missed opportunities
Chris Olave, who was the target of Justin Fields’ final pass, hung his head in disappointment.
Star running back J.K. Dobbins was fighting back tears as he walked off the field for perhaps the final time as a Buckeye.
The team was so close to completing a last-minute comeback, but instead — heartbreak.
“I thought we were going to go win the game,” Dobbins said. “But we didn’t make a play.”
Center Josh Myers was another Buckeye visibly emotional after the game, and says this one is extremely hard to stomach.
“Probably one of the most heartbreaking feelings I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Myers said. “I think everybody wanted it so bad, you know, on our side of the field. They did, too. We just wanted that so bad. It’s something that we worked so hard towards. We pretty much all committed our lives to get to this stage and to win this game.”
The loss to Clemson hurt just as much to OSU Head Coach Ryan Day, as it was the first of his coaching career.
He says the difference in the game was just a couple of missed opportunities.
“I think when we look back on it, it’s just going to be overwhelming how those game-altering plays that happen in a game, you know, you need those things to go beat a team like Clemson when you're playing in a semifinal game," said Day. "You need that one or two plays. To miss a couple of them, that hurts you. And again, range of emotions, but we’ll rest on it, watch the film and we’ll go from there.”
For senior wide receiver Austin Mack, it was his final game as a Buckeye. He’s most disappointed the team couldn’t reach their ultimate goal of being national champions.
“It’s a great group of guys, I’d love to be able to go one more week with them, but it’s all good,” he said. “It’s what God gave us.”
