Big Ten Conference champion and No. 6-ranked Ohio State (13-1) defeated Pac-12 Conference champion and No. 9-ranked Washington (10-4) 28-23 in the Rose Bowl on Tuesday. Dwyane Haskins led the Buckeyes to victory by completed 25 of 37 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, while Mike Wieber rushed for 96 yards in 15 carries. The Huskies were led by their usual duo of quarterback Jake Browning, who was 35-of-54 passing for 313 yards with no TDs or interceptions, and running back Myles Gaskin, who rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns in 24 carries and threw a TD pass to J.K. Dobbins.
With time running out, Washington makes a game of it ... but Ohio State wins 28-23
Washington turned a snoozer into an exciting game with a late flurry, scoring on a two-yard touchdown run by Myles Gaskin with 42 seconds to play.
But it wasn’t enough, as Ohio State recovered a last-gasp onside kick to secure a 28-23 victory.
Before that, though, the Huskies made it interesting.
Gaskin caught a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage and turned the corner on the right side making a diving reach for the pylon as he was being tackled. The replay looked inconclusive as to whether he broke the plane of the end zone before he stepped out of bounds. The touchdown stood, cutting the Ohio State lead to 28-23.
The ensuing two-point conversion pass by Washington was intercepted by Ohio State and looked as if it might have been run back.
The Washington threat ended when the Huskies were unsuccessful on their onside kick. The Buckeyes took over and knelt their way to victory.
Huskies come to life, get back into end zone
It’s late, but Washington is coming to life.
The Huskies, having forced three consecutive three-and-outs by Ohio State, have found their way back to the end zone, trimming the deficit to 28-17 with 6:42 to play.
Myles Gaskin scored on a one-yard touchdown run, one play after he came up about six inches short — after a video review — on a twisting run up the middle.
The scoring drive was set up by two long completions by Jake Browning, a 24-yard pass to Andre Baccellia and a 37-yard completion to Aaron Fuller.
Washington scores touchdown on trick play
The Huskies finally found the end zone, scoring their first touchdown with 12:17 to play, when running back Myles Gaskin took a handoff and threw a two-yard jump pass to tight end Drew Sample in the end zone.
Washington needed to get creative near the goal line as it is rated 110th nationally in red-zone efficiency.
The Huskies have cut the lead back to 18, 28-10.
Ohio State heads into fourth quarter with commanding lead
The Rose Bowl is pretty ugly — Ohio State is up, 28-3 — but the setting is typically beautiful, with the fading sunlight splashing across the San Gabriel Mountains. The 98-year-old stadium looks good for its age, in large part thanks to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, determined to protect the historic landmark for future generations.
This year, the foundation will dedicate two statues at the Rose Bowl, one in memory of late broadcasting legend Keith Jackson, and the other to honor the 1999 Team USA women’s World Cup champions. Monuments for Peyton Manning — who played his first college game in the stadium, in 1994 — and the 1932 Olympics track cycling. The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation has raised $34 million since its founding in 2010.
Washington can’t get any traction
Dinking and dunking just isn’t getting the job done for Washington, which hasn’t scored a touchdown in the last 18 possessions.
The Huskies drove into field-goal range with about four minutes left in the third quarter, but a kick wouldn’t have helped much. So they went for it on fourth-and-four, but Ohio State broke up the pass to take over on downs.
Haskins looking relaxed as Ohio State takes a 28-3 lead
Ohio State tore off a seven-play, 80-yard drive to take a 28-3 early in the third quarter, scoring on a three-yard run by J.K. Dobbins.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins was key to that, setting up the touchdown with a 34-yard pass to K.J. Hill.
Haskins, a top NFL prospect, looks comfortable dropping back against a Washington defense that has struggled all season to pressure the passer. The Huskies finished 101st nationally with 21 sacks this season.
A look at Rose Bowl halftime stats
Ohio State leads at halftime 21-3 and not surprisingly, the statistics from the first two quarters are lopsided.
The Buckeyes lead in first downs 17-9; total yards 272-151; and rushing yards 109-42.
Ohio State’s Mike Weber leads all rushers with 86 yards in 12 carries, a 7.2-yard average per carry.
Dwayne Haskins has already thrown three touchdown passes. Washington hadn’t surrendered more than three in a game this season.
Haskins throws third TD pass of first half
Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins threw his third touchdown pass of the first half, putting the Buckeyes up 21-3 in the waning moments of the second quarter.
It was the 50th touchdown pass of the season, a one-yard throw to Rashod Berry.
The Buckeyes lined up in a three-tight-end formation, giving the impression they were determined to pound into the end zone with the run. Instead, Berry came out of the backfield and Haskins hit him in the flat.
The Huskies took a knee to end the half down by 18.
Washington loses a linebacker
A worrisome moment for Washington came early in the second quarter when linebacker D.J. Beavers had to be helped off the field, apparently favoring his left leg.
Buckeyes go up, 14-3
Ohio State took a 14-3 lead with 12:23 remaining in the second quarter when Dwayne Haskins threw his second touchdown pass of the game, a 19-yard strike over the middle to Johnnie Dixon. Haskins, a top NFL prospect, dropped back and threaded the pass through a Huskies defense playing zone coverage. The touchdown capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took 3:56.
Rapp under wraps
The Huskies are hampered by the limitations to safety Taylor Rapp, among their defensive leaders. He leads the team in sacks, and is suffering from hip pain. He was on the field during warmups, and during the first series, but mostly has been watching from the sideline. His replacement is sophomore Brandon McKinney.
Washington narrows deficit to 7-3
Washington got on the scoreboard with 1:19 to play in the first quarter when Peyton Henry kicked a 38-yard field goal. That capped an 11-play, 55-yard drive that took 4:57.
The Buckeyes lead 7-3.
Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation leaders meet with Eddie George
The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation staff with the next two Tournament of Roses presidents, Laura Farber and Bob Miller, with two-time Heisman winner and Ohio State alumnus Eddie George before the 105th Rose Bowl game. The Legacy Foundation has a mission of protecting and enhancing the future of the near-century old stadium as a National Historic Landmark.
Campbell goes over 1,000 yards
With his 12-yard touchdown reception, Ohio State’s Parris Campbell topped 1,000 yards receiving for the season. He’s the fifth player in school history to reach that milestone.
Ohio State takes a 7-0 lead
The Buckeyes took a 7-0 lead with 9:04 remaining in the opening quarter when Dwayne Haskins threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Parris Campbell. A key play in the drive came on fourth-and-one, when running back Mike Weber tore off a 19-yard run around the left side to the Washington 12.
Washington’s defense looks good from the start
The Huskies flexed their defensive muscle on Ohio State’s opening possession, stuffing the Buckeyes on three straight plays — a run for no gain, an incomplete pass, and a sack of Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Live from the press box at the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl press box view
It’s finally here: Ohio State vs. Washington in the Rose Bowl
Out of respect for the place, for the bowl game he grew up watching and for his players who put everything into their 12-1 record and Big Ten championship, Urban Meyer was hesitant to use a particular phrase to describe the Buckeyes’ season and their slotting in Tuesday’s 105th Rose Bowl game.
“I don’t want to say we failed,” Meyer said, “because that’s a really, really tough word. But we have.”
A few days ago, Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins could not bring himself to watch much of the College Football Playoff semifinal games won by Clemson over Notre Dame and Alabama over Oklahoma. Oklahoma had the same record as Ohio State but was chosen as the playoff’s fourth team by the CFP selection committee. Haskins’ takeaway from what he saw Saturday?
“I thought we should have been in it,” the sophomore said, “but, take it out on Washington.”
Breaking down what to expect when Ohio State and Washington meet in the Rose Bowl
No. 6 Ohio State (12-1) vs. No. 9 Washington (10-3)
Tuesday, 2 p.m., Rose Bowl. TV: ESPN. Radio: 710.
Marquee matchup
Washington defensive front vs. Ohio State offensive line. Against Michigan’s then-No. 1-ranked defense, Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins spent much of the Nov. 24 game with a clean pocket from which to pick apart the Wolverines. The result was a 62-39 demolition of the Buckeyes’ rival and Haskins passing for 396 yards and six touchdowns. By the end of the game, the talented redshirt sophomore had vaulted himself into the discussion as perhaps the top quarterback available in April’s NFL draft. Haskins has not made a decision about whether to turn pro, instead choosing to focus on sending Urban Meyer out with a Rose Bowl victory over Washington in the coach’s first appearance in the game. Washington’s secondary, led by lockdown cornerbacks and future NFL draft picks Byron Murphy and Jordan Miller, gets all of the attention, and rightfully so. But if the Huskies’ defensive line and linebackers are not able to get to Haskins and get him out of rhythm, it will be a long day even for Murphy and Miller. If Haskins is given time, the Buckeyes have a way of getting the ball to their playmakers in space. Against Michigan’s man-to-man coverage, it was an array of crossing routes that befuddled the Wolverines and exposed their lack of speed at the second and third levels compared with receivers such as Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and KJ Hill. Expect Washington to mix in more zone coverage and, with a month to prepare, challenge the Buckeyes with new looks and diverse coverages.