Rose Bowl hosts similarly tough No. 7 Utah, No. 9 Penn State
Utah quarterback Cameron Rising, left, is interview by teammate Devin Kaufusi during media day ahead of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Penn State Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marcio Jose Sanchez]
The 109th edition of the Rose Bowl will feature the two-time Pac-12 champion Utah Utes and ninth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Led by quarterback Cameron Rising, the seventh-ranked Utes defeated Southern California in the Pac-12 title game to earn a second straight berth in the Rose Bowl after losing 48-45 to Ohio State last year. The Nittany Lions finished with a 10-2 record behind veteran quarterback Sean Clifford and freshmen running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Penn State returns to Pasadena on Monday for the first time since 2017, a wild 52-49 loss to the Trojans.
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Penn State wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (5) answers questions during media day ahead of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, left, smiles as he is interview by Utah defensive tackle Devin Kaufusi during media day ahead of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1) poses for a video during media day ahead of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marcio Jose Sanchez