It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that Ohio State (J.K. Dobbins) and USC (Ronald Jones II) will have terrific running backs carrying the football in the Cotton Bowl. That has been the case every time they have met since I watched my first Rose Bowl January 1. 1969.
That day, Ohio State’s star fullback Jim Otis (Yes, Woody let the fullback run the ball) went up against Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson. The Buckeyes won the game and the National Title but Simpson rushed for 171 yards. Each back scored a touchdown.
In the 1970s it was more of the same.