When Ohio State star receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave decided to opt out of the Rose Bowl, coach Ryan Day said his younger group of star receivers would get opportunities to “step up.”
And on the first Ohio State touchdown, with the Buckeyes trailing 14-0, a pair did.
Former five-star recruit Emeka Egbuka hauled in a long catch down the sideline and former four-star recruit Marvin Harrison Jr. cut the Utes’ lead in half with a 25-yard touchdown catch.
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Harrison, a true freshman from Philadelphia who enrolled at Ohio State last January, entered the game with just five catches for 68 yards on the season.
Watch Marvin Harrison’s 25-yard touchdown catch
Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. is the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison Sr. was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 following a 13-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts where he teamed with Peyton Manning. He won a Super Bowl and and was a three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection.
Harrison Sr. caught 1,102 passes for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns.
Harrison retired in 2008.
How Ohio State made the Rose Bowl: The 2021 schedule
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Sept. 2: Ohio State 45, Minnesota 31
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Sept. 11: Oregon 35, Ohio State 28
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Sept. 18: Ohio State 41, Tulsa 20
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Sept. 25: Ohio State 59, Akron 7
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Oct. 2: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 13
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Oct. 9: Ohio State 66, Maryland 17
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Oct. 23: Ohio State 54, Indiana 7
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Oct. 30: Ohio State 33, Penn State 24
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Nov. 6: Ohio State 26, Nebraska 17
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Nov. 13: Ohio State 59, Purdue 31
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Nov. 20: Ohio State 56, Michigan State 7
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Nov. 27: Michigan 42, Ohio State 27
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Jan. 1: Ohio State vs. Utah, Rose Bowl
Ohio State football schedule 2022
Here is what next season looks like for the Buckeyes.
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Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 3 in Columbus
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Ohio State vs. Arkansas State, Sept. 10 in Columbus
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Ohio State vs. Toledo, Sept. 17 in Columbus
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Michigan State vs. Ohio State, Sept. 24 in East Lansing
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Penn State vs. Ohio State, Oct. 1 in State College, Pa.
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Ohio State vs. Rutgers, Oct. 8 in Columbus
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Ohio State vs. Iowa, Oct. 15 in Columbus
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Ohio State vs. Indiana, Oct. 29 in Columbus
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Northwestern vs. Ohio State, Nov. 5 in Evanston, Ill.
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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 12 in Columbus
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Maryland vs. Ohio State, Nov. 19 in College Park, Md.
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Ohio State vs. Michigan, Nov. 26 in Columbus
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU WR Marvin Harrison Jr. cuts into Utah lead in Rose Bowl