3. Rose Bowl: (6) Ohio State vs. (11) Utah
This is, and always will be, one of my favorite bowl games no matter who is playing in it. Honestly, at times the game almost seems secondary to the game’s atmosphere. It’s one of the most beautiful settings in college football, and there’s nothing quite like watching the sunset over the horizon from inside the Rose Bowl. Luckily, if you aren’t into all the beauty and pageantry of the game, we’ve got a fantastic matchup to watch.
You know how in the NFL they’re always talking about that one team “nobody wants to meet in the playoffs”? Well, if college football had an expanded playoff field, Utah would be that team. The Utes began the season 1-2 with losses to BYU and San Diego State but tore through the Pac-12, going 8-1 in conference play. Over the final month and a half of the season, they beat UCLA by 20, Stanford by 45 and outscored Oregon 76-17 across two games. Kyle Whittingham’s team is peaking at the right time and capable of hanging with anybody.
The Utes will face an Ohio State team with an incredible collection of talent on the offensive side of the ball. The Buckeyes have one of the best QBs in the country in C.J. Stroud, and he has an embarrassment of riches at playmaking positions. The receiver trio of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave combined for 215 catches, 3,253 yards and 31 touchdowns. If Olave finishes with 64 yards receiving in this game, all three will finish the season with at least 1,000 yards. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned TreVeyon Henderson yet. The freshman phenom has 1,172 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns this season with people around the program already whispering he might be one of the best running backs in Ohio State history.
Utah @ 
Colorado 
.
