Tressels, Fickells, Urbans, Days, Johnsons and Days,

This is the space where all my Ohio State Rose Bowl memories will go.

The last time I wrote this line was the last time Ohio State met Oregon in the 2010 Rose Bowl. At that time, Ohio State had played in exactly one Rose Bowl during the previous 25 years. The Rose Bowl was something for generations before me.

I've always viewed the Rose Bowl as the pinnacle, and OSU BCS games played in other stadiums during the 90s and early 2000s kept the Rose Bowl more mythical than reality.  Someone else's team was typically watching the sun set on the San Gabriel mountains.

This is one of the biggest college football games ever.

The last time I wrote this line was just before the 2015 National Championship game between Ohio State and Oregon.  The Buckeyes were just about to win the inaugural CFP finale.  We had hoped for the 4-team playoff format and it was finally a reality.  OSU claimed the trophy as the 4th seed, and would have been sitting at home under the old format.  Ohio State got their chance, caught fire that postseason and steamrolled their way to the title.

Here we are again. Ohio State is about to watch the sun set on the San Gabriel mountains in the next round of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.  OSU has been given the opportunity with the expanded format.  The opponent looks familiar from other recent postseason memories.  

It seems right that we are here.  If the Buckeyes can play with the same fire, preparation and execution as the first round home game against Tennessee, I'll have more memories to write about. 

Touchdowns:  Quinshon, TreVeyon, Emeka, Jeremiah Smith

OSU 28 Oregon 24

Go Bucks!  Beat Oregon!  Harry Miller and Tyleik Williams for Heisman!

Stout Pops