Ohio State was without wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson in the Rose Bowl Saturday against Utah.
While those Buckeyes decided to prep for the NFL draft, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba put on a historic show.
The sophomore from Rockwall, Texas, caught 15 passes for an all-time bowl record 347 yards as the Buckeyes downed Utah, 48-45, on a 19-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining.
Ohio State was down 14 points four times in the game but never stopped rallying. The Buckeyes were without almost two dozen scholarship players and still won the game.
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA FOR THE LEAD!!
THIS MAN CAN'T BE STOPPED pic.twitter.com/AgDWhFSas6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 2, 2022
Smith-Njigba had three touchdown receptions as did freshman Marvin Harrison Jr., who had 6 catches for 71 yards.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba in today’s Rose Bowl:
▪️15 receptions
▪️346 yards
▪️3 TDs
▪️OSU record for most receiving yards in a game
▪️Rose Bowl record for most receiving yards
▪️Bowl Game record for most receiving yards pic.twitter.com/ZloyousGsC— Buckeye Videos+ (@BuckeyeVideos) January 2, 2022
Smith-Njigba put up wild numbers in high school:
- Compiled 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 career games
• In 13 games as a senior, had 104 catches for 2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns
Ohio State quarterback C.J, Stroud was 37-of-46 for 572 passing yards and the 6 TD passes.
The teams combined for more than 1,140 yards of total offense.
Ohio State’s game-winning drive came after Utah had tied the score at 45 on a pass from backup quarterback Bryon Barnes to Dalton Kincaid.
Barnes, a walk-on freshman, had not thrown a pass before having to replace an injured Cam Rising, who had accounted for more than 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.
ARE YOU KIDDING?!
THE UTES TIE IT UP WITH THIS TOUCHDOWN 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jYy6ky8p0f
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2022
