The last time Ohio State played in the Rose Bowl was Jan. 1, 1997. It's almost hard to believe it's been that long.

The Buckeyes under coach Jim Tressel have been the dominant team in the Big Ten for the past decade, winning at least a share of the last four conference titles. But in a BCS world, Texas and Oklahoma have played in the Rose Bowl more often in the past 10 years than Ohio State.

``It's something that Ohio State hasn't been to in a while,'' tight end Jake Ballard said. ``It's something that I think the Buckeyes need to bring back to Columbus.''

The Buckeyes are a victory away from ending that Rose-less run.

No. 15 Iowa visits Ohio Stadium on Saturday and the winner gets a trip to Pasadena, Calif., and a New Year's Day date with the Pac-10 champion.

Ohio State's last Rose Bowl trip was a memorable one. The Buckeyes topped Jake Plummer's late-game heroics with some of their own and beat Arizona State 20-17.

The Hawkeyes have gone without a Rose Bowl bid even longer than the Buckeyes. Hayden Fry was still at the helm in Iowa when it lost to Washington 46-34 in the 1991 Rose Bowl.

A victory Saturday in Columbus might be the only road to the BCS for the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes.

Ohio State has played in a Bowl Championship Series game each of the last four seasons, but a third loss would likely relegate the Buckeyes to one of the lower-profile New Year's Day games.

Same goes for the Hawkeyes, though a BCS at-large bid would still be in play.

The other marquee game with major BCS implications on Saturday will be in Texas.

No. 16 Utah is at No. 4 TCU, and the Horned Frogs have legitimate national title hopes. They'll need plenty of help to get to Pasadena for the BCS national championship game, but beating the Utes represents the toughest task remaining on the road to an undefeated regular season and the Frogs' first chance to play in any of the five big-money bowls.

The picks:ThursdayNo. 23 South Florida (minus 1) at Rutgers

Scarlet Knights have won three straight vs. Bulls ... RUTGERS 27-21.Friday's GameWest Virginia (plus 9) at No. 5 Cincinnati

Can speedy RB Noel Devine keep pace with potent Bearcats? ... CINCINNATI 42-27.Saturday's GamesNo. 1 Florida (minus 15 1/2) at South Carolina

Gamecocks are one-dimensional, with worst running game in SEC ... FLORIDA 24-10.No. 2 Texas (minus 23 1/2) at Baylor

Bears have been shut out three times in last seven games vs. 'Horns ... TEXAS 35-3.No. 3 Alabama (minus 12) at Mississippi State

Tide lost its last visit to Starkville ... ALABAMA 24-14.No. 16 Utah (plus 19 1/2) at No. 4 TCU

Utes are 5-1 against Frogs, but outclassed this year ... TCU 37-17.Idaho (plus 31 1/2) at No. 6 Boise State

Broncos have won 10 straight vs. Vandals, usually in a rout ... BOISE STATE 47-20.No. 7 Georgia Tech (minus 13) at Duke

Yellow Jackets clinch spot in ACC title game with victory ... GEORGIA TECH 35-24.Notre Dame (plus 7) at No. 8 Pittsburgh

Navy loss was fluke, Irish ready for big win ... NOTRE DAME 34-27.Louisiana Tech (plus 24) at No. 9 LSU

Tigers only lose to national title contenders ... LSU 30-3.No. 15 Iowa (plus 16 1/2) at No. 10 Ohio State

California, here the Buckeyes come ... OHIO STATE 24-10.No. 25 Stanford (plus 10 1/2) at No. 11 Southern California

Loser is pretty much done in Pac-10 race ... USC 35-28.No. 12 Miami (minus 3) at North Carolina

Hurricanes 0-3 at Chapel Hill ... NORTH CAROLINA 27-21.No. 13 Houston (minus 4 1/2) at UCF

Unstoppable O plus awful D make Cougs must-see TV - if you can find them ... HOUSTON 45-35.Arizona State (plus 17) at No. 14 Oregon

Sun Devils anemic offense can't keep up with Ducks ... OREGON 38-14.Texas Tech (plus 4) at No. 17 Oklahoma State

Two constants in this rivalry: High scoring, home team wins ... OKLAHOMA STATE 37-28.No. 18 Arizona (plus 1) at California

Without injured Jahvid Best, can Bears rebound? ... ARIZONA 28-20.Indiana (plus 25 1/2) at No. 19 Penn State

Now here's a defense Nittany Lions can handle ... PENN STATE 42-21.No. 20 Virginia Tech (minus 17 1/2) at Maryland

Hokies are 3-0 vs. Terps since entering ACC ... VIRGINIA TECH 38-14.Michigan (plus 8 1/2) at No. 21 Wisconsin

The ugliness continues for Wolverines ... WISCONSIN 35-21.No. 22 BYU (minus 26 1/2) at New Mexico

Another loss for winless Lobos ... BYU 47-14.No. 24 Clemson (minus 8 1/2) at N.C. State

Is any team better at breaking its fans hearts than Clemson? ... NC STATE 35-31.

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Last week: 18-5 (straight); 13-9-1 (vs. points).

Season: 164-40 (straight); 96-89-4 (vs. points).Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.