Ohio State football: I’m tired of “meaningless” bowl games

I’m tired of “meaningless” bowl games. Notice how I wrote that-“meaningless.” I’m tired of being told bowl games are meaningless. I’m tired of being told if it isn’t the College Football Playoff, the bowl game is meaningless. I understand, your favorite team isn’t playing for a national championship, but don’t tell me these bowl games are meaningless. Especially when it comes my Ohio State Buckeyes.

This Rose Bowl is not meaningless. It is a chance for Ryan Day’s team to rid themselves of the stench of the Michigan game, rinse the sour taste from their mouths, and end the season on a positive note. This Rose Bowl is a chance to take some much-needed momentum into the offseason.

Utah certainly is not going to treat this game as meaningless. If you thought they played like madmen in two games against Oregon, think about the intensity they’re going to bring playing one of college football’s elites on the type of stage offered by the most prestigious bowl of them all.

If the Ohio State football team shows up disinterested and still pouting about the Michigan loss, they’re going to get embarrassed again. Do you really want to see them lose to two PAC-12 teams in the same season?

The Utes have been playing football since 1892 and have played in exactly one, let’s call it, top-tier bowl game. Led by Urban Meyer they played in and won the Fiesta Bowl in 2004. Their bowl resume is dotted with Copper, Freedom, Emerald, Las Vegas, and Poinsettia Bowl appearances.

When you consider who they are playing (Ohio State) and the prestige of the Rose Bowl, this is the biggest game in Utah football history. That’s a lot coming from me because I’m not one given to hyperbole. The Utes are going to Pasadena to hammer a college football blue blood and make a name for themselves. The Buckeyes can’t look at this game as meaningless.

The Rose Bowl is still THE ROSE BOWL. Maybe I’m old school, but this game still carries a lot of prestige and I’m excited whenever the Buckeyes are playing in it. Please don’t tell me an Ohio State football appearance in the Rose Bowl is meaningless. It simply isn’t true.