In one of the most exciting Rose Bowl Games in recent history, a historic and record-breaking passing attack rallied the Ohio State Buckeyes past the Utah Utes, to win the 108th Rose Bowl Game, 48-45.

The Buckeyes' sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the greatest receiving performance ever seen in The Granddaddy of Them All. Smith-Njigba tallied 15 catches for 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns, setting game records for receptions and receiving yardage, while also tying the receiving touchdowns record. 

The man throwing Smith-Njigba the ball, redshirt freshman and Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud, also re-wrote the Rose Bowl Game record book, setting new marks for passing yards (573), passing touchdowns (6), total offense (583), touchdowns (6) and points responsible for (36).

But to say it was an easy road to victory for Ohio State would be a vast understatement. Utah, appearing in their first-ever Rose Bowl Game, jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, the Buckeyes were able to cut the lead in half with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. 

What happened next is something you'd have to see to believe. Ohio State and Utah combined to score four touchdowns in a span of 65 seconds on just six plays. 

On the first play, Utes sophomore running back Tavion Thomas waltzed into the endzone with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter, pushing the Utah's lead back to 14 points, 21-7. OSU responded with a two-play, 60-yard drive that took 27 seconds and culminated with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Smith-Njigba. The Utes clapped back immediately as senior Britain Covey returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. The Buckeyes nearly returned the next kickoff for a touchdown, but instead Smith-Njigba and Stroud connected on a 52-yard score on the first play from scrimmage to bring Ohio State within seven points, 28-21. 

On the next drive, the Utes gained control once again. Facing a fourth-and-one from their own 38, sophomore quarterback Cameron Rising took the snap and charged forward, stumbling near the line of scrimmage. He was able to stay on his feet and after bouncing off a few tacklers and raced to the end zone for a 62-yard rushing score, the longest scoring run by a quarterback in Rose Bowl Game history. 

Ohio State looked set to keep the rash of scoring going on the next drive when Smith-Njigba broke free over the middle, but Utah freshman cornerback Cam Phillips was able to punch the ball away from the Buckeye receiver at the 10-yard line. The Utes recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback to keep a 14-point lead at halftime, 35-21.
To start the second half Ohio State looked poised to score again, but Phillips made another big play for the Utes and intercepted Stroud in the end zone. 

Utah was unable to move the ball on the ensuing series and was forced to punt. The Utes punter dropped the snap and wasn't able to kick the ball away, giving Ohio State the ball at the Utah 11-yard line. Three plays later, Stroud found Harrison Jr. in the endzone to cut the Ute's lead to seven, 35-28.

To finish the third quarter, both teams traded field goals and Utah led, 38-31, heading into the fourth.

The Buckeyes defense came up with a big stop to start the fourth quarter. The Utes were driving but faced a fourth down in Ohio State territory. OSU made the crucial stop and took that momentum over to their offense, as Stroud quickly and efficiently moved the Buckeyes down the field. He completed all six of his passes, including a five-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Jr. that tied the game at 38-38.

With ten minutes remaining in a now tied game, the Utes were facing their most important possession of the day. But on the first play of the drive, Rising was sacked for a seven-yard loss and was injured on the play. In his stead, walk-on freshman Bryson Barnes, who had not thrown a collegiate pass, took over at quarterback for Utah. OSU stopped a pair of Utah runs and forced a punt. 

The Buckeyes took over with just over eight minutes remaining and once again matriculated their way down the field. Faced with a fourth and four from the Utah 39, Stroud found Smith-Njigba on the sideline to keep the drive alive. On the very next play, Stroud and Smith-Njigba connected again, this time in the back corner of the end zone for a 30-yard score to give the Buckeyes a 45-38 lead.

Trailing for the first time all game and with Rising sidelined, the Utes started their next drive with a pair of runs that went for two yards each. At that point, the Utes had no choice but to see what Barnes could do and he nearly wrote a fairy tale ending. The backup quarterback completed two passes, ran for ten yards on a third and one, and threw a couple passes that drew pass interference flags as he moved the Utes down the field. With 1:54 remaining, Barnes found senior tight end Brant Kuithe in the back of the end zone to tie the game once again, 45-45.

But the Buckeye offense could not be stopped. Assisted by a kickoff return to the OSU 42, Stroud and freshman running back Treyveon Henderson moved the ball down the field with ease, ultimately settling for a 19-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining. Senior kicker Noah Ruggles, who had converted 18-of-19 kicks during the season, split the uprights with the go-ahead field goal and secured the Ohio state victory, 48-45.