Buckeyes headed to Pasadena

PASADENA, CALIF. >> Ohio State’s consolation prize for missing out on the College Football Playoff is a classic matchup in the Granddaddy of Them All.

The Big Ten champion Buckeyes (12-1) will face Pac-12 champ Washington (10-3) in the 105th edition of the Rose Bowl game.

For the first time in college football’s playoff era, the champion of the Pac-12 will meet the champion of the Big Ten on New Year’s Day in Pasadena. That’s a welcome return to the traditional matchup for this tradition-soaked bowl game — and both schools have been away from the Rose Bowl long enough to make the trip likely irresistible for fans.

“We ended up right where we hoped to be, facing an awesome team in a big-time game that has so much history with this school and this program,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. “We couldn’t be more excited about going down there. It couldn’t be more awesome for our fans and where we recruit and those types of things.”

Both schools will be making their 15th appearance in the Rose Bowl. But Washington hasn’t been there since the 2000 season, and Ohio State has been just once since 1996, upsetting Oregon on Jan. 1, 2010.

Ohio State finished sixth in the race for four playoff spots despite winning the Big Ten title for the third time in five years.

The Buckeyes trounced Northwestern, 45-24, on Saturday night, one week after routing archrival Michigan in their annual showdown.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer largely shrugged off the playoff snub, instead focusing on the chance to finish strong.

“Hard to say I’ve ever been more proud of a group of players,” said Meyer, who is going to the Rose Bowl for the first time. “Not just players, but people, the way they demonstrated their resilience and toughness and love for one another.”

A blowout loss to Purdue in October doomed the Buckeyes, but their second trip to Pasadena in 22 years is a pretty decent finish to an eventful season.

“I know they’re always good,” said Petersen, who spent time in Columbus with Meyer shortly after getting the job at Washington. “I know the job Urban does and how he coaches. They’re always going to be a team that is very elite whether they’re in the fourteam playoff or right there. That’s kind of how he does it.”