The Ohio State Buckeyes will be beyond undermanned for Saturday’s Rose Bowl. Per The Athletic’s Bill Landis, OSU will be down 24 scholarship players vs. Pac-12 champion Utah.
“Ohio State will be without 24 scholarship players in today’s Rose Bowl vs. Utah,” Landis tweeted. “That’s a combination of season-long injuries, more recent injuries or illness, opt-outs and players who have transferred since the end of the regular season.”
Ohio State will be without 24 scholarship players in today’s Rose Bowl vs. Utah. That’s a combination of season-long injuries, more recent injuries or illness, opt-outs and players who have transferred since the end of the regular season.
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) January 1, 2022
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As for who exactly the Buckeyes will be missing, Landis notes some key pieces will be out.
Per the Ohio State reporter, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Haskell Garrett have opted-out of the bowl game.
Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Haskell Garrett are the opt-outs. Marcus Williamson, Sevyn Banks, Cody Simon and Antwuan Jackson are D starters who are unavailable. Plus the other season-long injuries and transfers.
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) January 1, 2022
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In addition, Marcus Williamson, Sevyn Banks, Cody Simon and Antwuan Jackson are other defensive starters who are unavailable. On top of the other season-long injuries and transfers.
While Ohio State is still plenty talented, missing some All-Americans from the lineup is sure to have an impact. Freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud will be without his two of this three leading receivers. And the Heisman-finalist will have a bit less help from the defense.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Buckeyes have a 68.2 percent chance of winning to Utah’s 31.8. The two teams kickoff at 5 PM ET on ESPN.
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