LOOK: Ohio State unveils special edition helmets for Rose Bowl

The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to take on the Utah Utes in the granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl, on New Year’s Day. And seeing that this game is special to the Buckeyes, they have announced a special twist to their uniforms.

This year, Ohio State found itself on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff, after suffering two losses on the season and failing to make it to their conference is championship game. But despite that, the Buckeyes were invited to one of the New Year Six Bowl games. And lucky for them, that game this year is the Rose Bowl, a place they have not lost since the 1980s. So to commemorate their appearance in the Rose Bowl this year, the Buckeyes added this sweet touch to their unis.

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our helmets today tho 😍 pic.twitter.com/fcRUcYcYrz

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 1, 2022

After a slow start to the season and a loss in their second game against the Oregon Ducks, Ohio State battled on to win nine consecutive games. A win streak that included a 56 – 7 drubbing of the then No.2 team in the nation, the Michigan State Spartans. But, the Buckeyes could not complete the sweep of the Michigan schools this season, as they fell the following week to the Wolverines. That loss knocked them out of the Big Ten championship game and ultimately out of the College Football Playoff picture. But before the year ends, Ohio State gets one last opportunity to display their high octane passing attack against one of the better secondary corps in the PAC 12 this season.

Herbstreit: Playing in the Rose Bowl shouldn’t be a ‘consolation prize’ for Ohio State

College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit has a clear message for Ohio State ahead of the Rose Bowl. Herbstreit understands being disappointed, but he wants Ohio State to appreciate the Rose Bowl for what it is.

“To me, I get being upset,” Herbstreit added. “I get, ‘Hey, we didn’t accomplish our goal, we didn’t beat our rival, we didn’t go to the Big Ten Championship, we didn’t go to the playoff.’ But we’re going to the Rose Bowl. It’s the Rose Bowl. We used to deal with the consolation prize of the Citrus Bowl. But this is the Rose Bowl. Maybe these players that are struggling to understand it, maybe when they get out there and get on that field, maybe that will dawn on them why this bowl is different or why it’s unique. I hope they do. I get being disappointed. But you’ve got to shake it off and move onto the next game and get the bad taste out of your mouth.”

Even though Ohio State failed to live up to its expectations this season, the Buckeyes have an opportunity to end the year on a very high note in the Rose Bowl against Utah. But that won’t happen if the players don’t buy into it and get past the disappointment after losing to Michigan.