LIVE UPDATES: No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 11 Utah Utes

Live stats, information and analysis from Pasadena as the sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes take on the eleventh-ranked Utah Utes in the 2022 Rose Bowl.

Author:
Eddie Marotta
Updated:
Jan 1, 2022 9:03 PM EST

Pasadena, California — The Buckeyes look to finish off the 2021-22 season on a high note, as they travel to Pasadena to take on the Utah Utes in this year's edition of the Rose Bowl. With multiple key opt outs in the game, the Buckeyes will need to be at their best to avoid suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since 2013.

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Fourth Quarter

NOAH RUGGLES IS GOOD! Ohio State has taken a 48-45 lead with 9 seconds remaining in the 2022 Rose Bowl!

Timeout called by Ohio State with 12 seconds remaining.

Henderson rushes forward for a gain of 9 on first down.

Smith-Njigba with his 15th reception of the game, gaining another first down to the 12 for Ohio State with 36 seconds left.

Henderson carries outside right, picking up a first down and staying in bounds down to the 23.

Henderson picks up 9 on first down, moving the ball down to the UU 35 with 1:06 remaining.

Henderson plunges forward for a an Ohio State first down inside the UU 44.

Emeka Egbuka with another big return for Ohio State, bringing the ball out to the OSU 42!

Utah scoring drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 2:20, Touchdown.

Touchdown Utah! Bryson Barnes enters the game at quarterback for the Utes and finds Dalton Kincaid in the end zone to tie the game at 45 with 1:54 remaining.

Bryson Shaw is flagged for pass interference on an under thrown ball from Bryson Barnes.

Bryson Barnes scrambles for 10 yards down to the OSU 30.

Cameron Brown is flagged for pass interference on third down.

Ohio State scoring drive: 9 plays, 85 yards, 3:57, Touchdown.

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA DOES IT AGAIN! C.J. Stroud with another incredible throw to the corner of the end zone, and Smith-Njigba secures the reception for Ohio State's first lead of the game. 45-38, OSU.

Stroud and Smith-Njigba hook up yet again, this time converting a huge first down for the Buckeyes on 4th and 4.

Julian Fleming is stopped short of the first down on third down.

C.J. Stroud was shaken up after 1st and 10 from the UU 45, but remains in the game.

C.J. Stroud has now thrown for over 500 yards, a Rose Bowl record.

Stroud connects with Harrison again, this time for 16 yards to the UU 45.

TreVeyon Henderson runs for 11 yards on Ohio State's first play of the drive.

Utah runs the ball on second and third down, and will punt back to Ohio State.

Cameron Rising is down on the field for Utah after taking a hit and falling awkwardly on the last play.

HOW ABOUT A HAT TRICK FOR MARVIN HARRISON JR.!? C.J. Stroud finds Harrison in the back corner of the end zone, and OSU has knotted the game at 38 with 10:12 to play!

THE FULLBACK IS MAKING PLAYS! Stroud looks for Mitch Rossi in the flat, who takes the reception for 22 yards down to the UU 11!

With five consecutive 100-yard receiving games, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has tied the OSU record.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke Parris Campbell's record for receptions in a season after eclipsing 91 with his last catch.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba ALL DAY! JSN catches a quick slant and works his way downfield for a gain of 30 yards.

On 4th and 3, Rising finds Brant Kuithe, who is tackled short of the first down marker by Ronnie Hickman. OSU football!

Cade Stover comes up with another big stop on 3rd and 4, forcing a fourth down for Utah.

Third Quarter

Brant Kuithe picks up another first down for Utah, inside the OSU 40.

Tavion Thomas creates room to pick up a Utes first down at the 49.

Ohio State scoring drive: 11 plays, 76 yards, 4:06, Field Goal.

Noah Ruggles is good on a 31-yard field goal attempt. 38-31, Utah.

C.J. Stroud throws incomplete on 3rd and 10.

Emeka Egbuka is stopped at the line of scrimmage on 2nd and 10.

C.J. Stroud throws back across his body into the end zone and is nearly intercepted by Karene Reed.

Emeka Egbuka gains another 16 yards from Stroud, and Ohio State is in the red zone.

The reception gives Smith-Njigba the Buckeye record for receiving yards in a game, breaking Terry Glenn's mark, and tied him with Parris Campbell's single-season mark.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba records his 10th reception of the day, picking up 20 yards down to the UU 30.

Ohio State calls timeout prior to 1st and 10 from the 50.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has recorded a Rose Bowl record 238 receiving yards in the game. Smith-Njigba set the Buckeye record for receiving yards in a bowl game earlier in the afternoon.

Stroud finds Marvin Harrison Jr. for another OSU first down, out to the 38 yard-line.

Julian Fleming converts on a first down reception, but immediately heads to the sideline with an apparent shoulder injury.

Big return of 75 yards for Emeka Egbuka, but a hold by Julian Fleming on the play will negate the yardage. OSU will start the drive from their own 10.

Utah scoring drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 4:10, Field Goal.

Utah adds three more to their lead, which now stands at 10. Big time stop from the OSU defense to avoid a touchdown after surrendering yardage early in the drive. 38-28, Utes.

Kourt Williams makes a huge tackle to stop the Utes short of a first down inside the OSU 5 yard line.

Rising rolls out of the pocket and hits Dalton Kincaid for a gain of 23 yards to the OSU 10.

Micah Bernard bounces to the outside on 3rd and 1, stiff arming Ronnie Hickman and picking up 22 yards to the OSU 34.

Dominic DiMaccio kicks the ball out of bounds on the kickoff.

With his 42nd touchdown pass of the season, C.J. Stroud has now moved into second place in single season passing touchdowns in Ohio State history. Dwayne Haskins is first with 50.

Ohio State scoring drive: 2 plays, 11 yards, 0:52, Touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES! Marvin Harrison Jr. is into the end zone for the second time today, and OSU has trimmed the Utah lead to 7! 35-28, Utes.

TreVeyon Henderson re-enters the game and gains 13 yards on 1st and 20.

Dawand Jones is called for holding on first down for Ohio State.

Utah drops the snap on the punt, and Ohio State will take over with possession of the football at the UU 11!

Denzel Burke breaks up Cameron Rising's third down throw, and Utah goes three-and-out.

Stroud throws to Julian Fleming in the end zone, but Clark Phillips makes a drive-ending interception for Utah.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba cannot be stopped! Stroud goes to JSN on 3rd down once more, and Jaxon runs for a gain of 45 yards down to the UU 20.

TreVeyon Henderson picks up 8 yards on 2nd and 10 but is slow to get up after the play.

Second Quarter

Julian Fleming makes a reception and is tackled in bounds to end the half.

Stroud finds Smith-Njigba for a gain of 15 yards and spikes the ball with 11 seconds remaining at the UU 40.

Ohio State uses their last timeout with 19 seconds remaining in the half.

Jeremy Ruckert picks up 9 yards to the OSU 45.

TreVeyon Henderson picks up 11 yards on a screen pass, and the Buckeyes add on 15 more to the play following a late hit. OSU has the ball at its own 36.

Rising throws incomplete on 3rd and 6 with 41 seconds remaining in the half. Utah will punt.

Brant Kuithe finds open space in the secondary again, picking up 23 yards on the play. He is down on the field with an injury following the conclusion of the play.

Smith-Njigba almost had his third touchdown of the game, but Clark Phillips runs the Buckeye receiver down and knocks the football out. Utah recovered the football in the end zone and has possession.

Stroud connects with Jaxon Smith-Njigba again on third down, moving the chains for the Ohio State offense.

Utah scoring drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:31, Touchdown.

Cameron Rising keeps the ball himself and rushes for a 62-yard touchdown on 4th and 1 from the UU 38. 35-21, Utah.

The Ohio State defense makes a stand on 3rd and 2, stopping Tavion Thomas short of the first down.

Ohio State scoring drive: 1 play, 52 yards, 0:10, Touchdown.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba AGAIN! Stroud looks for Smith-Njigba yet again, and the receiver takes the catch all the way home for another Ohio State touchdown. 28-21, Utah.

Lathan Ransom has been carted off the field following the kick return touchdown.

Britain Covey responds to the OSU touchdown with a 97-yard kick return touchdown, extending the Utah lead back to two possessions. 28-14, Utes.

Ohio State scoring drive: 2 plays, 60 yards, 0:27, Touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES! C.J. Stroud slings one deep down the left sideline for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the receiver does the rest on the 50-yard touchdown connection. 21-14, Utah.

Miyan Williams runs for a first down on the first play of the drive.

Emeka Egbuka finds some space on the kick return, advancing the ball to the OSU 40.

Utah scoring drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 5:04, Touchdown.

Tavion Thomas walks into the end zone for another Utah touchdown. 21-7, Utes.

Jack Sawyer is called for targeting on the play and has been ejected from the game.

Rising turns on the jets, escaping from the pocket and gaining 16 yards down to the OSU 12. The play is under review for targeting.

Solomon Enis takes a pass from Rising from 14 yards down to the OSU 28.

Brant Kuithe takes a tight end jet sweep for a first down on 3rd and 2.

Cole Fotheringham finds space over the middle of the field for a gain of 8 on 2nd and 10.

Utah is called for holding on 2nd and 9.

Cameron Rising uses play action to find Devaughn Vele for a gain of 23.

Ohio State scoring drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:05, Touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES! Marvin Harrison Jr. makes his first trip to the end zone as a Buckeye, as C.J. Stroud finds him deep for a 25 yard score on 4th and 1! 14-7, Utah.

TreVeyon Henderson is stopped short of a first down on 3rd and 1.

First Quarter

C.J. Stroud pins a pass perfectly on the sideline for Emeka Egbuka, who makes an incredible catch down the sideline for a gain of 30 down to the UU 34.

C.J. Stroud keeps it himself and lowers his shoulder to pick up a Buckeye first down.

Ryan Day calls Ohio State's second timeout of the first half prior to 3rd and 8 from the OSU 26.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is flagged for holding on 2nd and 1.

Stroud finds Julian Fleming for a gain of 9 on first down.

Utah scoring drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 4:47, Touchdown.

Cameron Rising lofts a throw to Micah Bernard in the back corner of the end zone on 3rd and 6 from the OSU 12, and the receiver hauls in the pass and gets a foot down in bounds for another Utah touchdown. 14-0, Utes.

Utah attempts a wide receiver reverse pass, but the Buckeyes cover well downfield and Britain Covey rushes for 8 yards on the play.

T.J. Pledger goes airborne en route to a 6 yard gain, picking up another Utah first down at the OSU 29.

Utah hits another chunk play to begin their third drive of the game, as Brant Kuithe breaks contain and gains 27 yards to the OSU 40.

C.J. Stroud connects with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on first and second down, but a bas snap on 3rd and 2 leads to another Buckeye three-and-out.

Utah scoring drive: 5 plays, 56 yards, 1:37, Touchdown.

Touchdown Utah. Cameron Rising finds Britain Covey, who takes the underneath throw 19 yards for the game's first score. 7-0, Utes.

Ohio State cornerback Kourt Williams is called for pass interference on a downfield throw to Brant Kuithe. Utah is at the OSU 22.

Brant Kuithe gains 11 yards over the middle of the field and Utah is in Buckeye territory again. Utes going to the hurry-up on offense.

Ohio State is quickly pushed into a 3rd and 7, and C.J. Stroud throws incomplete to Jaxon Smith-Njigba downfield. Early three-and-out for the Buckeyes.

Cade Stover makes an early impact at the linebacker position, bringing down Tavion Thomas in the backfield on 3rd and 4, forcing a Utes punt.

Ohio State calls timeout prior to a Utah 3rd and 4 from the OSU 45.

Ohio-native Tavion Thomas picks up 10 yards and moves the ball into OSU territory on the game's opening possession.

Utah moves the chains on their first offensive play, as Cameron Rising finds tight end Cole Fotheringham for a gain of 11.

The 108th Rose Bowl Game is underway in Pasadena, CA! Ohio State will begin the game on defense, after Utah won the coin toss and elected to receive.

Pregame

The Ohio State marching band performed the national anthem prior to the 108th Rose Bowl Game.

Demario McCall was taking snaps at wide receiver during warm-ups. Today's game will be the final time McCall suits up for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State's Sevyn Banks and Cody Simon are among the 19 players unavailable for Saturday's Rose Bowl:

Scenes from the 2022 Rose Parade:

Ryan Day hasn't officially ruled out Chris Olave for today's Rose Bowl game against Utah:

Previewing the 2022 Rose Bowl:

Check out the field design ahead of today's game!

C.J. Stroud's Rose Bowl game appearance is a homecoming for the Buckeye QB. Read more:

Four Buckeye starters have opted out of playing in the Rose Bowl:

It's Game Day!!

Game Preview: Ohio State Motivated To End Season On High Note In Rose Bowl Against Utah

Ohio State and Utah head into Saturday’s Rose Bowl in two very different places.

The Buckeyes had their Big Ten title and College Football Playoff hopes dashed with a 42-27 loss to Michigan in the regular-season finale on Nov. 27, while the Utes knocked off Oregon for a second time this year to capture their first Pac-12 title one week later.

Ohio State also had several players opt out of the Rose Bowl in the weeks since to avoid injury and prepare for the NFL Draft, including wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and defensive tackle Haskell Garrett, while Utah didn't have a single player opt out of what is arguably the biggest game in school history.

With that, all signs point to the Utes being the team that's more motivated and more excited to be in this position. But head coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes are also eager to send the seniors out on a high note and use a victory as a springboard into next season.

“I love those guys and I certainly think this game is important for our team, and I know the guys who are playing in their last game want to finish with a lasting image of a victory in the Rose Bowl,” Day said during his media availability this week. “The younger guys want to get some momentum going into next year.

“That’s what we’ve been focused on right now. Each guy has to make (their own) decision in that role, but I know there’s still a bunch of guys that want to play really well in this game.”

General Info

Date: Jan. 1, 2022
Where: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif)
Expected Weather: 56 degrees, sunny
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET

Current Betting Numbers

Spread: Ohio State (-4)
O/U Total: 64
Betting: Check out the new SISportsbook!

How to Watch/Listen

Television: ESPN
Streaming: fuboTV (get a 7-day free trial)
Announcers: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline reporter)

Local Radio: Ohio State Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Flagship: WBNS 97.1 The Fan
Announcers: Paul Keels (play-by-play), Jim Lachey (analyst), Matt Andrews (sideline reporter), Skip Mosic (pregame/halftime/postgame host and producer)

Series History

Ohio State leads Utah, 1-0
* OSU record at home: 1-0

LAST TIME THEY MET
1986: Ohio State 64, Utah 6

Coaching Matchup

* Ryan Day
* At Ohio State: Third Season, Record: 33-4
* Overall: Same

* Kyle Whittingham
* At Utah: 18th Season, Record: 144-69
* Overall: Same

Ohio State Capsule

With Olave and Wilson out, Ohio State is tasked with replacing two of the greatest wide receivers in program history, as the duo combined for a whopping 318 receptions for 4,915 yards and 58 touchdowns during their storied careers.

Still, the Buckeyes should view Saturday’s game as a passing of the torch from elite upperclassmen to talented youngsters who are ready to step into a larger role.

Sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba – who actually led the team this fall with 80 catches for 1,259 yards and six touchdowns – will fill the leadership void left by Olave and Wilson, while sophomore Julian Fleming and true freshman Marvin Harrison Jr. will look to fill their shoes on the outside.

“I’m excited for this game,” Smith-Njigba said during his media availability this week. “It will be a little show of what we’ll see next year.”

Fleming, who was the top-rated wide receiver in the class of 2020, started in Wilson’s place in the nine-point win at Nebraska on Nov. 6, while Harrison saw the fourth-most snaps of anyone at the position. There’s also true freshman Emeka Egbuka, who could see snaps in the slot if Ohio State decides to move Smith-Njigba around.

“These guys have been waiting for this opportunity,” Smith-Njigba said. “I know they’re excited to step into that role, and I’m just happy for Chris and Garrett for taking that next step. The wide receiver room, we just want to make them proud and ball our for them, so it’s going to be fun.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud agreed with Smith-Njigba’s assessment and doesn’t seem too worried about losing two of his top three targets. After all, Fleming and Harrison are simply stepping into their new roles one game earlier than expected.

“Im super confident,” Stroud said. “You’re going to see an explosive offensive and those guys making plays. Marvin and Julian are going to step up and they’re going to play real hard and they’re going to make plays. It’s nothing new to them. They’ve been doing it since they were kids, so I don’t expect anything different.”

Utah Capsule

Ohio State’s toughness and physicality was questioned coming out of the aforementioned loss to Michigan, when the Buckeyes surrendered 297 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, and it will be tested again this Saturday against Utah.

The Utes are among the best in the country at rushing the football, as they average 5.64 yards per attempt and 216.5 yards per game, thanks in large part former Dayton Dunbar star Tavion Thomas, who is out to show the staff “what they missed out on” when they passed on him for academic reasons during the 2018 recruiting cycle.

“I know Michigan, they were just more physical and stuff like that, and I feel like we could match their physicality with Ohio State,” Thomas said during his media availability on Tuesday. “I feel like it's going to be a good game and I feel like we're going to be able to run the ball.”

Thomas has already played against the Buckeyes once in his college career, as he was on the Cincinnati team that lost 42-0 in 2019. He carried the ball 11 times in that game for 58 yards, but fumbled near the goal line on the Bearcats’ final offensive play.

After spending one season at Independence Community College, Thomas is now part of a three-headed monster at running back, as he, junior T.J. Pledger and redshirt freshman Micah Bernard have combined for 2,210 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season.

Not to mention redshirt sophomore quarterback Cameron Rising, who has thrown for 2,279 yards and 18 touchdowns but is also a threat with his legs with 407 yards and five more scores on the ground. That presents quite the challenge for an Ohio State squad that was dominated in the trenches last time out.

“I feel like this is a good opportunity to show that we’ve made adjustments based on the last game,” redshirt sophomore linebacker Steele Chambers said. “I think it’s a good game to prove ourselves, prove that we’re a tough team, that we’re a physical team and that we can handle that kind of stuff.”

Major Storylines

This is just the second all-time meeting between the two programs, with Ohio State beating Utah, 64-6, in Columbus in 1986.

The Utes are the Buckeyes’ eighth different Rose Bowl opponent, including Arizona State (1-0), Cal (1-1), Oregon (2-0), Stanford (0-1), UCLA (0-1), USC (3-4) and Washington (1-0).

Ohio State is 8-7 in Pasadena and 26-27 all time in bowl games, including the vacated win over Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.

The Buckeyes were at .500 in bowl games following last season’s Sugar Bowl victory over Clemson, but fell below the mark with the loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Ohio State is tied with Michigan, Stanford and Washington with eight Rose Bowl victories, second all time to USC with 20.

The Buckeyes’ 15 Rose Bowl appearances are the most of any bowl game, with the Fiesta (9), Sugar (6), Citrus (4) and Outback (4) following.

Ohio State is the only school in the country to reach a New Year’s Six bowl (Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose or Sugar) in all eight seasons since the playoff began.

Former head coach Urban Meyer spent two seasons at Utah, guiding the Utes to a 22-2 record and a win in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

Both Day and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham coached under Meyer, with the former as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2017-18 and the latter as the Utes’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2003-04.

Football operations coordinator Brian Voltolini also spent three years at Utah (2003-06).

No current Ohio State players are from Utah, though 2022 quarterback signee Devin Brown played his senior season at Draper Corner Canyon, the same school that produced former offensive lineman Branden Bowen (2015-19).