Rose Bowl

Arizona State (11-0) vs. Ohio State (10-1)

Site: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.

Time: 4: 30 p.m. today

TV: Chs. 2, 7

Line: Ohio State by 2

Players to watch:

Jake Plummer, Arizona State: The four-year starter threw for 23 TDs and 2,575 yards.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes quarterback situation has been muddled over the past few weeks of the seasons. Stanley Jackson has not played well, and Joe Germaine looks more comfortable coming off the bench. Ohio State needs positive play from one or both to get its offense on track. Jackson will start.

Best win:

Arizona State 19, Nebraska 0: The No. 17 Sun Devils validated themselves as serious title contenders by ending top-ranked Nebraska's 26-game winning streak.

Ohio State 38, Penn State 7: The third-ranked Buckeyes routed No. 4 Penn State in a battle for Big Ten supremacy.

Outlook: Arizona State's last bowl game was the 1987 Freedom Bowl. The Sun Devils' last Rose Bowl was in 1987 after the '86 season, when they beat Michigan, 22-15. The Buckeyes are making their 13th Rose Bowl appearance. Their last was in 1985 when they lost to Southern Cal, 20-17. Ohio State is 1-6 in its seven bowl games under coach John Cooper, though he was 2-1 in bowls while at Arizona State, including the Rose Bowl win in '87. The Buckeyes have 35 sacks and recorded three shutouts this season.

Pub Date: 1/01/97