Three keys to Rose Bowl between Ohio State and Utah
Get up for the game
Whether the Buckeyes will be motivated for the Rose Bowl has been one of the biggest questions in the weeks leading up to kickoff. It's the first time since 2018 that they haven't been in the College Football Playoff. The “Granddaddy of Them All” isn't a bad consolation prize, but it's also a different reality for a program used to vying for the national championship. Still, Ohio State can ill afford to sleepwalk in the game. Utah will be fired up for its first-ever Rose Bowl appearance and brings a physical style of play that won't make it easy for the Buckeyes to go through the motions.
Protect C.J. Stroud
As Ohio State faltered against Michigan to end the regular season, it left quarterback C.J. Stroud under significant duress. Stroud faced pressure on 25 of his 53 dropbacks (47.1%) against the Wolverines, according to data from Pro Football Focus, after being under pressure on only 22.4% of dropbacks over his previous 10 starts. Michigan's pass-rushing tandem of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo caused a lot of that havoc, and Utah could create similar disruption. Led by linebacker Devin Lloyd, who was named the Pac-12's defensive player of the year, the Utes totaled 42 sacks, the fourth most nationally entering the bowl season. The Buckeyes will need to revert to form by keeping the pocket clean.
Be clean
Averaging 6.5 penalties per game, the Buckeyes were penalized more often than in the first two seasons of Ryan Day's coaching tenure. The sloppiness ultimately cost them against Michigan as they racked up 10 penalties for 66 yards. A bulk of them were committed by the offensive line, including five false starts and two holding penalties, hamstringing drives by putting them off schedule or setting them back in the red zone. In another potentially tight contest, Ohio State will need to be cleaner than it has been
this fall.
Key matchup
Ohio State’s run defense vs. Tavion Thomas
The front of the Buckeyes' defense was bruised and gashed at Michigan, giving up a season-high 297 rushing yards. They'll be in trouble Saturday if it becomes a pattern. Utah boasts a top-20 rushing offense behind Tavion Thomas, a Dayton native who is a physical, 221pound running back. According to Pro Football Focus, 71% of his 1,041 rushing yards have come after contact. The Utes lean on their strength, too, at times lining up in 13 personnel, which features three tight ends, providing some extra blockers for their running back. Can Ohio State be just as tough in the trenches?
Key stat
93.85: The average rushing yards per game that Utah has outgained its opponents, the second-most for a team the Buckeyes have faced this season.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.