Ohio State versus USC in football used to be as much a part of the New Year’s tradition as “Auld Lang Syne” and Dick Clark waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square.
“Auld Lang Syne” is a rap song now, and Dick Clark is no longer with us, but Ohio State-USC is back — though Friday’s game will take place in the Cotton Bowl, not the Rose Bowl, the customary gathering place for the Big Ten and Pac-12 conference champions.
It will be eighth bowl meeting between the two iconic college football programs, but the first to take place outside Pasadena.