Saturday’s sold-out Rose Bowl Game between Ohio State and Utah is expected to be played on New Year’s Day in front of a full stadium, according to Pasadena Tournament of Roses Executive Director and CEO David Eads.

“Right now we continue to move forward with planning for this year’s Rose Bowl Game,” Eads said. “Both teams, Ohio State University and the University of Utah … they have had several special events. We redid their special events so there are mainly only team events, so there’s not a lot of interaction with people outside of their game bubble.

“Flexibility has been a keyword in all of our planning this year, so we will continue to be flexible to adjust to any changes that we might need to make.”

Questions from spectators have arisen on social media surrounding the status of the game. Some are concerned it could be canceled because of the current COVID-19 spike due to the delta and omicron variants surging in Los Angeles County.

“Right now both teams are reporting healthy and we’re less than 48 hours out from the game,” Eads said. “We feel very positive with all of our preparations.”

“Barring some unforeseen circumstance, we expect to be able to play our game on time,” Eads continued, before adding that the Rose Bowl Parade is still scheduled for New Year’s morning. “It’s a defining moment for hundreds of people and we’re hopeful that we can deliver on that this year and bring the hope, joy, and the thought of healthy new beginnings to people all across the country.

“People need to see that we can make it through. We’re resilient, we’re strong and hopefully on New Year’s Day, through both the Parade and Bowl Game, we’re able to instill in people that as a country and as a world we will get through this.”

Nationally, five college football bowl games have already been canceled, including the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, which was called off due to COVID-19 protocols within UCLA’s program. Two other bowl games had to replace one of their participating teams as well.

Meanwhile, in L.A. County, the Department of Public Health reported 20,198 new cases (and 24 newly reported deaths) on Thursday, which is more than triple the number of cases reported early last week.

Over the past seven days, public health leaders said cases have increased more than 100 percent from 9,988 to 20,198.

Additionally, test positivity rates have more than doubled from 10.9 percent to 20.4 percent and daily hospitalizations have increased more than 67 percent from 801 to 1,251, according to county leaders.

“As the cases continue to rise, it is important that we all use the tools available to help us curb the spread,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “As we get ready to welcome the new year, this includes re-thinking party plans, limiting time indoors with non-household members, and isolating from others if feeling sick. And always wearing a medical-grade mask when in close contact with others outside your household.”

The 108th edition of the Rose Bowl is back at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena for the first time since Jan. 1, 2020. The 2021 game, which also served as a College Football Playoff semifinal, was relocated to Arlington, Texas.

According to a statement from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses dated Dec. 19, 2020, the CFP’s decision to move the game was based on in part “the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Southern California along with the inability to host player and coach guests at any game in California.”

ROSE BOWL BUZZ

Players from both seventh-ranked Ohio State (10-2) and No. 10 Utah (10-3) are excited to be in Southern California preparing to play in the Rose Bowl, which kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday (ESPN). In fact, they are cherishing the opportunity and not taking it for granted.

“It means a lot,” Ohio State senior tight end Jeremy Ruckert said this week. “Coach (Ryan) Day has talked a lot about the traditions and expectations to play in the Rose Bowl and all the people who came before you. It was a decision, and playing in this game, it’s the Rose Bowl. And I don’t want to leave off with a bad note, (like) we played in the last game.

“I’m excited to play in the Rose Bowl and I’m excited to play against Utah.”

Ruckert and several other prospects on both teams chose to play in the game, but four prominent Buckeyes (wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and defensive tackle Haskell Garrett) are sitting out to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.

“Mindset is to play the best we can in the granddaddy of them all really,” said Utah junior linebacker Devin Lloyd, who is from Chula Vista in San Diego County and is projected as a first-round draft pick in the spring.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the program, for the university, to be the first team to go to the Rose Bowl. As much as we want to enjoy all the festivities that come with it, we know ultimately we’re here to play a game and win a game. We’re going to do everything we can to just make sure we put ourselves in the best position to win,” Lloyd said.

For others, it’s their first time ever playing in a bowl game and traveling to California.

“It’s been good. Just being able to come out here. I’ve never been out to California before so it’s a good experience,” said Ohio State freshman running back Treveyon Henderson, who grew up in Virginia. “It means a lot to be able to play in the Rose Bowl. It’s a blessing.”

TEAMS HAVE REGIONAL CONNECTIONS

Utah players are intimately familiar with the region. There are more than 20 student-athletes on the Utes’ roster from Southern California, and the team plays at least one Pac-12 game per season in L.A., against either USC or UCLA.

“I’m excited about it. I know it’s going to be a great game. Got a lot of respect for those guys on the other side and I think this is our year,” said Utah freshman cornerback Clark Phillips III, a La Habra High graduate who was committed to Ohio State until National Signing Day of his senior year.

Phillips is a Long Beach native who knows exactly what winning the Rose Bowl would mean to Utah.

“When you’re a program that’s trying to gain notoriety and gain a name in terms of success, I feel like these games definitely help. Pac-12 Championships help. We’ve just got to continue to keep on dominating at a high level,” Phillips explained.

Others, such as Ohio State freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud, who finished fourth in 2021 Heisman Trophy voting, also have something to prove in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

The Rancho Cucamonga High graduate said one of the reasons he ended up at Ohio State was because local schools didn’t recruit him hard until late in the process.

“I will never be a second choice, so Ohio State, they showed me love from the beginning,” Stroud continued. “Other schools did as well that were not on the West but a lot of West Coast schools dropped interest on me. I was like man, I just have to go play somewhere else. It is what it is. I’m blessed to even be where I’m at.”