Buckeyes keep sights on Roses

The last time Ohio State played in the Rose Bowl was Jan. 1, 1997. It’s almost hard to believe it’s been that long.

The Buckeyes under coach Jim Tressel have been the dominant team in the Big Ten for the past decade, winning at least a share of the past four conference titles. But in a BCS world, Texas and Oklahoma have played in the Rose Bowl more often in the past 10 years than Ohio State.

“It’s something that Ohio State hasn’t been to in a while,” tight end Jake Ballard said.

“It’s something that I think the Buckeyes need to bring back to Columbus.”

The Buckeyes are a victory away from ending that Rose-less run.

No. 15 Iowa visits Ohio Stadium on Saturday and the winner gets a trip to Pasadena, Calif., and a New Year’s Day date with the Pac-10 champion.

Ohio State’s last Rose Bowl trip was a memorable one. The Buckeyes topped Jake Plummer’s late-game heroics with some of their own and beat Arizona State, 20-17.

The Hawkeyes have gone without a Rose Bowl bid even longer than the Buckeyes. Hayden Fry was still at the helm in Iowa when it lost to Washington, 46-34, in the 1991 Rose Bowl.

A victory Saturday in Columbus might be the only road to the BCS for the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes.

Ohio State has played in a Bowl Championship Series game each of the past four seasons, but a third loss likely would relegate the Buckeyes to one of the lower-profile New Year’s Day games.

Same goes for the Hawkeyes, although a BCS at-large bid would be in play.

The other marquee game with major BCS implications Saturday will be in Texas.

No. 16 Utah is at No. 4 TCU, and the Horned Frogs have legitimate national title hopes.

They’ll need plenty of help to get to Pasadena for the BCS national championship game, but beating the Utes represents the toughest task remaining on the road to an undefeated regular season and the Frogs’ first chance to play in any of the five big-money bowls.