Utah's 1st Rose Bowl to be against Pasadena veteran Ohio St

Updated Dec. 5, 2021 3:34 p.m. ET

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Utah and Ohio State will meet for the first time in 35 years in the 108th edition of the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

The tenth-ranked Utes (10-3) secured their first appearance in the Granddaddy of Them All with their

It will be Utah's third appearance in a New Year's Six Bowl. The Utes defeated Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl to conclude the 2004 season and beat Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

Kyle Whittingham's squad has played through grief and adversity during the past year after two players died in a nine-month span. Running back Ty Jordan, who was the Pac-12's Freshman of the Year last season, died in an accidental shooting last December. Cornerback Aaron Lowe, Jordan's best friend, was killed Sept. 26 in a shooting during a house party in Salt Lake City.

The Utes are led by running back Tavion Thomas and linebacker Devin Lloyd. Thomas is tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead with 20 rushing touchdowns while Lloyd is the only Power Five player with at least 14.5 tackles for loss (22) and multiple interceptions (four).

No. 7 Ohio State (10-2) had hopes of appearing in the College Football Playoff for the third straight season and was in the top four most of the season. But the Buckeyes were knocked out of contention with a

Quarterback C.J. Stroud is the first player in Big Ten history to be named the conference’s offensive player of the year, freshman of the year and quarterback of the year in the same season. He passed for 3,862 yards and 38 touchdowns.

While Utah is a Rose Bowl rookie, the Buckeyes are frequent visitors. The Buckeyes will be making their 16th trip to Pasadena and their second in four years. Ohio State's last appearance was during the 2018 season when they defeated Washington in what was to be Urban Meyer’s final game on the Buckeyes’ sideline.

Ohio State defeated Utah in Columbus 64-6 in 1986.

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