Peach Bowl Girl Catherine Gurd was 'distraught' in viral moment

July 2024 · 2 minute read

The moment Catherine Gurd captivated the internet’s attention at the Peach Bowl happened to come at a really distressing time for the Ohio State fan.

Appearing on “Inside Edition” this week, Gurd — a Xavier University athlete who went viral after attending Saturday’s College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Georgia — recounted what she was feeling in the game’s final moments, when her beloved Buckeyes were down by one against the Bulldogs.

“I was distraught at that moment,” Gurd said. “I was just praying and hoping that we would make the kick … the team would go to the national championship.”

Ohio State fan Catherine Gurd went viral on Dec. 31, 2022, during the Peach Bowl. Instagram/Catherine Gurd
Catherine Gurd supports the Ohio State Buckeyes during the College Football Playoff semifinal on Dec. 31, 2022. Instagram/Catherine Gurd

Gurd, whose older brother is a tight end for the Buckeyes, then watched Ohio State miss what would have been a game-winning 50-yard field goal, sealing Georgia’s 42-41 victory.

Although the evening ended in heartache for Gurd, things took an unexpected turn when a fan reshared her snippet from the game’s broadcast, posting on TikTok: “Someone find me this girl from Ohio State.”

Gurd confirmed Monday on TikTok that she was the “Peach Bowl Girl” in question.

Catherine Gurd (left) took to Instagram on Jan. 1, 2023, to post a handful of photos from the game. Instagram/Catherine Gurd

“When you kick off 2023 with a new name,” Gurd posted in the clip.

Elsewhere on TikTok, a fan lobbied for Gurd to join forces with Tulane fan Ellie Fazio, who experienced her own viral moment at Monday’s Cotton Bowl.

“Peach bowl girl & Tulane girl collab,” a fan commented at Gurd.

Stay tuned.

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