3. Utah couldn’t deliver the knockout punch
Utah got up 14-0, and it wasn’t enough.
It answered a Jaxon Smith-Njigba home run touchdown catch with a brilliant Britain Covey kickoff return for a score.
It wasn’t enough.
It answered yet another Smith-Njigba monster touchdown catch with Cameron Rising barreling through the line on fourth down for a fantastic 62-yard score and a 35-21 halftime lead.
It wasn’t enough.
Even when things weren’t going well, Utah was still able to get up ten late in the third quarter, but the defense couldn’t hold on as CJ Stroud and the offense kept on coming.
Against just about anyone else – like, say, Oregon – Utah did more than enough to put this game away, and it showed the resiliency late when Rising was banged up to tie it up at 45 with under two minutes to go.
But Ohio State’s offense, Stroud, and Smith-Njigba were too good.
It’s a horrific cliché, but it’s true – there weren’t any losers in this. Utah was right there up until the final seconds and it put on one amazing show.
Rose Bowl 5 Thoughts
5. Ohio State still had guys
4. The Jaxon Smith-Njigba performance
2. It might not have been a CFP game, but …
1. The Rose Bowl is still the Rose Bowl