Utah Utes Solomon Enis (21) sits in defeat after losing to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Nittany Lions won 35-21.
Utah Utes Solomon Enis (21) sits in defeat after losing to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Nittany Lions won 35-21. Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
Lee Benson
By Lee Benson
Lee has written slice-of-life columns for the Deseret News since 1998.

PASADENA — Maybe it was the overconfidence that can come with beating the runaway Heisman Trophy winner — twice.

Maybe it was being favored in Vegas and having the wind at their back for a change.

Maybe it was lugging around all that Granddaddy-of-Them-All Rose Bowl tradition.

Whatever it was, the Utah Utes started slow in a Rose Bowl a lot of fashionable people thought they would win, and then went backwards.

After a 14-14 does-anyone-want-this-thing? opening half, the Utes fell hard after intermission, losing 35-21 to the Penn State Nittany Lions, their only second-half score coming with 25 seconds remaining that they used all their timeouts to secure and left everyone wondering why they would want to prolong the game.

The 109th edition of college football’s oldest bowl game was billed as the end to an era, an ode to the good old days. Maybe not back as far as raccoon coats and rumble seats, but at least to when no one knew how to spell NIL and thought transfer portals were something out of Star Trek.

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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) sits on the field after getting injured as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Mitchell Tinsley 5 runs with the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising 7 runs with the ball while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ja'Quinden Jackson 3 celebrates scoreing a touchdown while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Sean Clifford 14 throws the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ja'Quinden Jackson 3 scores a touchdown while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising 7 is runs and is tackled while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising 7 gestures a first down he scored while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Jan Mahlert 84 celebrates a first down while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Jaylen Dixon 25 runs with the ball while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Jan Mahlert 84 is tackled with the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Kaytron Allen 13 falls and rolls from a tackle while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Kaytron Allen 13 runs with the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Tyler Warren 44 is tackled with the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Nicholas Singleton 10 scores a touch down against the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes cheerleaders perform before the Penn State Nittany Lions play the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Money Parks 10 runs with the ball while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Money Parks 10 runs with the ball while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Nicholas Singleton 10 is tackled with the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Nicholas Singleton 10 runs with the ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Jets fly over the stadium before the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin talks to officials after the Utah Utes score a touchdown in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Utah Utes' Thomas Yassmin (87) scores a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Penn State Nittany Lions' Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes' Zemaiah Vaughn (16) interferes with the Penn State Nittany Lions' KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1) in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Utah Utes marching band sits before the Penn State Nittany Lions play the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes RB Micah Bernard (2) fights to regain his balance as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) runs out of the pocket as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes RB Ja'Quinden Jackson (3) dives forward during a run as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) begins a slide during a run as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) runs out of the pocket as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes CB Zemaiah Vaughn (16) defends Penn State Nittany Lions WR Harrison Wallace III (6) in the end zone as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes CB Zemaiah Vaughn (16) is called for pass interference on Penn State Nittany Lions WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the end zone as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Cheerleaders run out after an extra point as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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A Utah fan holds a a giant block U as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions CB Kalen King (4) intercepts a pass in front of Utah Utes WR Devaughn Vele (17) as they play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Fans cheer during the game as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans watch players enter before they play the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Two B-1 Lancer bombers do a flyover of the stadium as Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes TE Thomas Yassmin (87) flexes after catching a touchdown pass as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah runs out of the tunnel as they and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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The Barrow family from Layton, Utah, take photos in front of the Rose Bowl as they prepare to watch Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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The Streiff family from Farmington, Utah, pose for a photo before watching Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Fans line up to get merchandise prior to Utah and Penn State playing in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players put on their helmets before they play the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn Sate Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin and Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham shake hands before playing in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham and Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) listen to a official as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes TE Thomas Yassmin (87) celebrates a touchdown with teammates as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) warms up as Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes cheerleaders pose for a photo during warmups as Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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The Goodyear blimp circles overhead as Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah players run out onto the field as they prepare to play Penn State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah players run out onto the field as they prepare to play Penn State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah fans watch as Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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A Utah fan holds up his U as Utah and Penn State prepare to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes TE Taniela Pututau (84) receives a kiss after the game as Utah falls 35-21 to Penn State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes WR Solomon Enis (21) sits on the field as Utah falls 35-21 to Penn State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes WR Solomon Enis (21) tosses his helmet to a fan as he leaves the field as Utah falls 35-21 to Penn State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham walks off the field with his team as Utah falls to Penn State in the Rose Bowl 35-21 in Pasadena California on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham walks off the field with his wife Jamie Whittingham after Utah fell to Penn State 35-21 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising, left, walks onto the field before playing the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn Sate Nittany Lions players walk off their bus before playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Brant Kuithe (80) Hans a fan a signed ball before playing the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising warms up before playing the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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A Penn Sate Nittany Lions fan waits as team buses arrive at the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising, left, walks onto the field before playing the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn Sate Nittany Lions players walk off their bus before playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Cameron Rising warms up before playing the Penn Sate Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lion players celebrate beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lion players celebrate beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lion players celebrate beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Sean Clifford 14 puts on his championship hat after beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Sean Clifford 14 runs towards the center of field after beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Sean Clifford 14 waves to fans after beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Solomon Enis 21 sits in defeats after loosing to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham walks off with his wife Jamie after loosing to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin and Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham shake hands after Penn state won the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin is surrounded by players as they celebrate beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Jaylen Dixon 25 runs the ball for a first down and is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions players during the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Jaylen Dixon 25 runs the ball for a first down while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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The Penn State Nittany Lions marching band and fans sing Sweet Caroline while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Jonathan Sutherland 0 recovers a fumble ball while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Nicholas Singleton 10 is tackled with the ball by Utah Utes Cole Bishop 8 in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes back-up quarterback Bryson Barnes 16 throws the ball while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ja'Quinden Jackson 3 runs the ball for a first down while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Jaylen Dixon 25 runs the ball for a touchdown while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Kaytron Allen 13 runs the ball for a touchdown while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions KeAndre Lambert-Smith 1 runs the ball for a touchdown while Utah Utes Cole Bishop 8 trails in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes punter Jack Bouwmeester 34 lays on the field after being hit by a Penn State Nittany Lions player during the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions KeAndre Lambert-Smith 1 gestures towards the crowd while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Jaylen Dixon 25 runs the ball and is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions Ji'Ayir Brown 16 in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Ja'Quinden Jackson 3 runs the ball for a first down and is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions Keaton Ellis 2 in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players pay tribute to Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions Sean Clifford 14 holds his MVP trophy after beating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes Jaylen Dixon 25 runs the ball for a touchdown while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions' Sean Clifford (14) runs the ball but is tackled short of the endzone while playing the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. The Penn State Nittany Lions won 35-21. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) passes over Penn State Nittany Lions LB Kobe King (41) as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) runs just before being hurt and leaving the game as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans watch in frustration as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Penn State Nittany Lions fans celebrate after a touchdown as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans watch in frustration as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes WR Devaughn Vele (17) tries to get away from Penn State Nittany Lions LB Curtis Jacobs (23) as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions CB Kalen King (4) as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Bryson Barnes (16) is hit hard by Penn State Nittany Lions LB Robbie Dwyer (39) as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes LB Mohamoud Diabate (3) tries to knock the ball down as Penn State Nittany Lions QB Sean Clifford (14) passes as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) is hit and injured during a run, causing him to leave the game as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes QB Cameron Rising (7) is helped off the field after getting injured on a run as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans watch in frustration as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes RB Micah Bernard (2) is hit and tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions LB Tyler Elsdon (43) and S Keaton Ellis (2) as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes DE Chase Kennedy (13) looks up at the scoreboard as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes WR Devaughn Vele (17) is hit early by Penn State Nittany Lions S Keaton Ellis (2) on a pass play and interference was called as Utah and Penn State play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Penn State won 35-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

It would be the last game between the champions of the Pac-12 and the Big Ten conferences, a tradition dating back to World War II that will now give way to the Rose Bowl joining a rotation in the new 12-team national playoff.

And who better to play the role of a solid, honest, working man’s football program to be envied than the Utes — a beat-the-odds kind of school that spent the 2022 season abusing none other than Caleb Williams, the Oklahoma-to-USC NIL/transfer portal poster boy who spent the year losing to nobody not named Utah (well, until the Cotton Bowl).

This is the face of modern college football: When Williams won the Heisman Trophy in December, he wore a gold Gucci suit to the ceremony in New York and flew all eight of his offensive linemen across the country to be with him.

You can do that when your Name, Image and Likeness haul for the year was $2.1 million.

The Utes couldn’t come close to matching that, although quarterback Cam Rising did collect a reported $535,000 in NIL revenue this season to rank 85th among college football players.

But it wasn’t the Utes who got to drop the mic and close the curtain with a win in the last traditional Rose Bowl.

It was the school of Joe Paterno, of Linebacker U., the school with the plainest uniforms this side of an accountant’s office.

At first, it looked like Utah was primed to avenge last year’s 48-45 heartbreaking last-minute loss to Ohio State. Once again, the hordes of Ute faithful descended on southern California, clogging up I-15 before the snows hit and filling up the airports.

Like last year, the school ticket office sold out its first allotment of tickets quickly, got some more from the Rose Bowl, then sold those, dispensing over 30,000 tickets, and that’s not counting sales on StubHub and other secondary outlets.

It’s true, Penn State fans responded much better than Ohio State last year. But still, there was much more red in the stands than blue and white. Rather than Utah having about a 75-25 fan advantage in the cavernous Rose Bowl, this one looked closer to 60-40.

Crowd advantage notwithstanding, when the roof caved in, it caved in quickly. After Penn State took a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter, Rising used his legs in the broken field for a bruising 7-yard run.

The good news: He got the first down. The bad news: He was hurt and had to leave the game.

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Highlights, key plays and photos from Utah’s 35-21 Rose Bowl loss to Penn State

Backup Bryson Barnes replaced him, as he did in last year’s Rose Bowl. But instead of responding by driving the team to a touchdown, Barnes ran into Linebacker U.

After going nowhere and two Utah punts, Penn State added another touchdown, followed by what should easily pass, considering the circumstances, as the worst Utah offensive series of the season:

Barnes on a keeper loses 3; a Barnes pass to Thomas Yassmin is incomplete; Barnes is sacked for a loss of another three yards; Jack Bouwmeester’s 40-yard punt bounces backwards 12 yards.

Penn State took over on the Utah side of the field and headed to the end zone like it was a ski run.

Five plays later, three of them no-huddle, the score was 35-14, after which the Nittany Lion fans broke into singing their unofficial feel-good theme song, “Sweet Caroline.”

Nothing rubs it in your face quite like Neil Diamond.

And then it started to rain.

Ten and a half minutes remained, but it was over.

Give the Utes credit for not going peacefully into the night. With 2:12 and the use of their three timeouts remaining, Barnes led a 78-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard pass to Jaylen Dixon with 24 seconds on the clock.

Thus the last touchdown scored in a traditional Rose Bowl came from the Utes.

As the clock struck none, with the mist falling, the stadium emptied quickly, at least on the Ute side of things.

Penn State’s fans were content to stand in the rain and sing along to another school favorite, “Celebration,” a song about as old as “Sweet Caroline.”

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Then it was “Sweet Caroline” again.

By this time there was no red to be seen. The Ute faithful were on their way home, wondering two things:

When, and if, they’ll ever get back to Pasadena — which could actually be soon, and often, with the Rose Bowl a part of the College Football Playoff from 2024 forward.

And if Rising will heal up and come back next season for his senior year — or declare for the pros and take a drop in pay.

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