More reports suggesting Rose Bowl could take Penn State over Buckeyes
So it turns out Kirk Herbstreit wasn’t being crazy by suggesting Penn State could be selected to play in the Rose Bowl ahead of a higher-ranked Ohio State. A day after the release of the College Football Playoff’s latest rankings were unveiled, where Ohio State was sitting at No. 5 and three spots ahead of No. 8 Penn State, there is more traction to the idea that Penn State could get the Rose Bowl’s Big Ten invite even if Ohio State is left out of the College Football Playoff.
According to Stewart Mandel and Nicole Aurbach of The Athletic, the Rose Bowl “is strongly considering taking Penn State instead of Ohio State” if it has to choose between the two schools as options. As outlined in a post yesterday, the Rose Bowl is tied to taking the Big Ten champion or the next-best team available. Ordinarily, with Michigan expected to play in the College Football Playoff as the Big Ten champion, Ohio State would be the next team in line unless a spot opens up for the Buckeyes in the playoff (a loss by TCU or USC in the Big 12 or Pac-12 championship game would be required).
But because the contract for the Rose Bowl gives the game the option of choosing a team from a close cluster of options, Penn State suddenly looks more attractive as a possibility because Ohio State just played in the game last year and could potentially be lined up for a rematch of last year’s game against Utah if USC ends up in the playoff (Utah faces USC in the Pac-12 championship game). With Penn State climbing to No. 8 with a 10-2 record, it begins to make more and more sense as to why this could actually be happening.
If the Buckeyes land at No. 5 on Sunday, the Rose Bowl is strongly considering taking Penn State instead of Ohio State this year, sources tell @slmandel and me: https://t.co/ogOKLu7ezZ
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 30, 2022
And then, there is this report from Dotting the Eyes, the Rivals affiliate covering Ohio State, which suggests Ohio State is actually asking the Rose Bowl to not be invited and allow Penn State to go instead if the scenario presents itself.
As @OhioSt_Rivals reported yesterday, the Buckeyes themselves requested that the Rose Bowl take Penn State if Ohio State doesn’t make the playoff. https://t.co/xNRbEPyjeU
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) November 30, 2022
While we certainly can’t speak on behalf of Buckeyes Wire, it does make sense why Ohio State may not want to book another trip to Pasadena. Yes, the Rose Bowl is fantastic, but a trip to Miami for the Orange Bowl is probably much more cost-effective if it is an option.
We’ll know for sure exactly how this all plays out on Sunday once the College Football Playoff field is set. If the chalk holds this weekend with the top four (Georgia, Michigan, TCU, and USC) all claiming a playoff spot, then the big question will be just who the Rose Bowl takes to from the Big Ten if it is given the option. Penn State not being in the game since 2017 certainly makes for an attractive option.
Of course, Purdue can spoil everything with a massive upset this weekend of the Wolverines in the Big Ten championship game.
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