Ohio State Football: Three keys to victory in the Rose Bowl

Perhaps the biggest key for the Buckeyes in this game doesn’t have to do with the physicality of the game or the gameplan going in. It has to do with the mentality of the team heading into the game. They have to know they are the better team going in and play like it.

Just because Utah is a very good team doesn’t mean they are the better team between these two. Ohio State still has the more talented squad on paper. They have the higher-ranked recruits. Now they just have to show it on the field and prove to everyone that’s the case.

If Ohio State comes into this game without mental toughness, they will lose. They are going to have to survive a few punches in the mouth early in this game. If they decide it’s not worth it to keep going through the adversity, then Ryan Day will lose consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Getting the team to have the right mentality is up to the coaches. They have to instill confidence in the team that they can get the job done. Day has to tell his team that they need to get the job done. A soft mentality will get them nothing but a loss headed back to Columbus.

If Ohio State can do these three things, there is no reason why they shouldn’t get out of Pasadena with a win. A win would do some great things for the confidence of these players and this coaching staff heading into 2022.