Ohio State had a chance to essentially seal a road win over Texas with a makable field goal on Saturday night.
Buckeyes kicker Connor Hawkins had a chance to give his team a multi-score lead with less than 5:00 to play. Ohio State was leading Texas, 23-17, at the time of the field goal attempt. Going up by nine points with roughly 4:00 to play would’ve essentially wrapped up the wind.
However, Hawkins missed the 45-yard field goal attempt. The kick went wide left. Hawkins finished the night 3 for 4 with two extra points made.
“Today, we really played well for three quarters and didn’t play well enough in the fourth quarter,” Ryan Day said, via cleveland.com. “That’s the bottom line.”
Day added that he felt Ohio State lost a lot of momentum: “Once that happened, they sustained some drives, certainly had a chance to kick the field goal and make it a two-score game and didn’t do that. This one hurts.”
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Ohio State has had several missed field goals in big moments in the past, including in last season’s Big Ten Championship Game vs. Indiana, and in previous losses to Michigan.
But is the criticism of Ohio State’s kicking game deserved?
In the past, perhaps.
However, this year, Day feels that it’s unfair to lump criticism of the past into criticism of Hawkins.
Ohio State is sticking with Hawkins
“Yes, I trust the special teams,” Day said on Wednesday.
Day is sticking with Hawkins.
“Asked about Connor Hawkins, Day said he doesn’t think Hawkins’ miss should be lumped in with anything that’s happened in the past. He said the Buckeyes believe in him based on what they’ve seen in practice,” Day added.
Ohio State will be taking on Kent State on Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon E.T.
