The 2022 Rose Bowl has lost its mind. No. 11 Utah leads No. 6 Ohio State 35-21 in a game that saw both teams trading haymakers in the second quarter. Early in the game, it looked as if we might be on our way to a surprising blowout as Utah jumped out to a 14-0 lead and Ohio State looked like it preferred to be anywhere else. Suddenly, the energy changed.
Ohio State took a risk on fourth-and-1 by throwing deep, and C.J. Stroud connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown that set an insane second quarter in motion. The Utes responded with another long touchdown drive to go back up by two scores, and then came three touchdowns in 30 seconds. After Stroud hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 50-yard touchdown pass, Utah’s Britain Covey returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. A few seconds later, Stroud hit Smith-Njigba for another long score.
And just in case that wasn’t enough, Utah QB Cam Rising turned a broken play into a 62-yard touchdown run on a dangerous fourth-and-1 decision to put the Utes up 35-21. Then the craziest thing of all happened: Nobody scored for the final 6 minutes of the first half.
Let’s hope the second half is even half as fun. The Buckeyes will start the third quarter with the ball, looking to make it a one-score game again. Keep it locked here throughout the Rose Bowl game as CBS Sports updates you with scores, analysis and highlights from kickoff to the final whistle.