No. 11 Utah Falls To No. 6 Ohio State In Rose Bowl Game Shootout
Jan 1, 2022, 1:40 PM | Updated: 7:05 pm
Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball after a reception against the Utah Utes during the second half in the Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
PASADENA, Calif. – The Utah Utes football team fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in a shootout edition of the Rose Bowl Game.
The No. 11 Utes played the No. 6 Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Saturday, January 1.
Ohio State beat Utah, 48-45.
Pregame
Ready for the @rosebowlgame. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/rQFGFsMY34
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
📍 Rose Bowl Stadium #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/FKp8vslBiE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
👀#GoUtes #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/SS9vMu3nsK
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
.@CollegeGameDay in the 🏠#GoUtes #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/az0Ybzg6Zh
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
.@Utah_Football’s buses have arrived at the @rosebowlgame pic.twitter.com/EEa5nO03oR
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
#GoUtes #22Forever pic.twitter.com/79mRNtIzLv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
.@PKKinahan expands on what he said during the @rosebowlgame special n @KSL5TV. Why should the Rose Bowl mean so much to @Utah_Football?
Rewatch the special right now on the KSL TV app! pic.twitter.com/akomXOsfiZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
.@Utah_Football WR Britain Covey (@brit_covey2) brought the 🔥 with his @rosebowlgame cleats. 🌹#GoUtes #RoseBowl https://t.co/Kp5R2uyXfO
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
First Quarter
Utah made a position change as they brought running back Micah Bernard over to cornerback to help a depleted secondary.
Offense ➡️ Defense 🙌#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSUhttps://t.co/Wqjk8aQkL4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
After both teams punted on their first possession, Utah was able to get down the field. Ohio State committed a pass interference penalty that set Utah up in the red zone. Cam Rising found Britain Covey for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Utes a 7-0 lead with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter.
.@Utah_Football strikes first in the @rosebowlgame. 💥#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/R5KiGet5ie
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
After Ohio State punted the ball away again, Utah capitalized with a beautiful back-shoulder throw from Cam Rising to Micah Bernard for a 12-yard touchdown. Bernard is also playing cornerback on defense. Utah had a 14-0 lead with 3:28 remaining in the opening quarter.
Micah Bernard (@ctb_mb) gives @Utah_Football a double-digit lead with an awesome TD catch. 🙌🌹🏈#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/b2O8SRD2vC
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
Second Quarter
Ohio State scored a touchdown quickly in the second quarter when C.J. Stroud found Marvin Harrison Jr. from 25-yards out. Utah’s lead was 14-7 with 14:17 left in the first half.
The Utes responded with Tavion Thomas’ 21st rushing touchdown of the year. Utah was up 21-7 with 9:07 remaining in the first half.
🌹 Touchdown Tavion, @rosebowlgame style. 🌹#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/3nFViMHvXY
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
It only took Ohio State two plays to get back into the end zone. Stroud hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 50-yard TD. Utah’s lead was cut to 21-14 with 8:32 remaining in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Britain Covey took the ball for a 97-yard touchdown. It’s his first kickoff return touchdown of his career. Utah took a 28-14 lead with 8:12 remaining until halftime.
.@brit_covey2 with a 🏠☎️ in the @rosebowlgame. 🤯#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/uae93yEQW1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
On the first play from scrimmage for Ohio State, Stroud finds Smith-Njigba again. This time for a 52-yard TD. Utah’s lead was back to seven, 28-21 with 7:55 remaining in the half.
Four plays later, Cam Rising rushed for a 62-yard touchdown to put the Utes ahead 35-21 with 6:24 remaining until halftime.
.@crising7 = DUAL-THREAT 😏#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/BSXfu9d61J
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 1, 2022
Smith-Njigba almost had another touchdown but Clark Phillips hit the ball out and the Utes recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback.
.@ClarkPhillips21 pushed the RB button on this play. 💪🎮🏈#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/oHrGT7UywC
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022
Third Quarter
Ohio State started the second half with the ball and went down the field on a big play by Smith-Njigba. Stroud tried to throw the ball in the end zone but Clark Phillips III picked off the Heisman Finalist.
.@ClarkPhillips21 is balling out in the @rosebowlgame. 💥🙌#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/3QXClpF1hv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022
Utah was set to punt when Michael Williams bobbled the snap and Ohio State recovered. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown as Stroud found Marvin Harrison Jr. in the end zone. OSU cut the deficit to 35-28 with 11:20 remaining in the third quarter.
The Utes countered with a 24-yard field goal by Jadon Redding to extend their lead to 38-28 with 7:10 left in the third.
Ohio State made a field goal late in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Utah held their moment of loudness at the start of the fourth quarter.
🗣❤️🌹#22forever #LLTJ #LLAL #GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/IgnY2h9gQ0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022
Shortly after, Ohio State tied the game with another touchdown catch from Marvin Harrison Jr. Game was tied at 38 with 10:12 remaining in the game.
With 9:56 left in the fourth quarter, Rising was sacked by Ohio State’s Kourt Williams II for a loss of 14 yards to the Utah 20-yard line.
Rising’s helmet bounced on the turf as he was tackled. The Ventura, California native remained on the ground for a few minutes as medical personnel attended to the quarterback.
Rising was able to walk to the sideline under his own power. He went into the medical tent for more evaluation.
Bryson Barnes replaced Rising on the following play.
Sending good vibes to Cam Rising. 🙏#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSU https://t.co/a96Hu0XdVF
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022
With 4:22 to go, Stroud hit Smith-Njigba for a 30-yard touchdown to give Ohio State its first lead of the contest.
With 1:54 remaining, Barnes found Dalton Kincaid for 15 yards and six points to knot the scoreboard at 45 points apiece.
Bryson Barnes hits Dalton Kincaid to tie things up. 🙌#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSUhttps://t.co/k6p4ULQIN8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022
Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles connected on a 19-yard field goal with nine seconds left to lift the Buckeyes to a three-point win.
💔 What a game. What a season. 🌹
FINAL
No. 11 @Utah_Football 45
No. 6 @OhioStateFB 48#GoUtes #RoseBowl #UTAHvsOSUhttps://t.co/ZpYxmOH4PW— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 2, 2022
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
