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The Rose Bowl will take place Jan. 1, 2015, pitting the No. 2 Oregon Ducks against the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles. It will be the 102nd Rose Bowl game but the first College Football Playoff Semifinal ever played as this is the first year NCAA football will crown a national champion through a playoff system.
The 126th Rose Bowl Parade will kick off the biggest day of the year in Pasadena, Calif., beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
Traditionally one of college football’s major bowl games, the Rose Bowl is one of two semifinal locations this year with the Sugar Bowl. The winners of the two games, all selected by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, will advance to the National Championship game played at AT&T Stadium in Texas on Jan. 12.
Here’s what you need to know about the game.
1. No. 2 Oregon (12-1) Hosts No. 3 Florida State (13-0)
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The College Football Selection Committee ranked the Oregon Ducks No. 2 in the nation and according to the new CFP rules, the higher seeded team is assigned to play in the closest semifinal location. As a result, Oregon will play closer to home and will host No. 3 Florida State for the first time.
2. Two of the Best Players in the Country are Playing
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The game features the last two Heisman Trophy winners in Florida State QB Jameis Winston, who won the award in 2013, and Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, who won it this season. While he is a dynamic player, Winston’s troubles off the field have been well documented over the last year. He has gotten in trouble for a wide array of infractions, ranging from childish behavior like yelling obscenities in public and stealing from a supermarket, to more serious accusations like sexual assault. He is considered an excellent NFL prospect that will likely enter the 2015 Draft, but teams may be scared off by his behavior. Winston threw for 24 TDs and 17 INTs this season and the Seminoles have not lost a game in two years.
Mariota was a hot NFL prospect going into this season and he did not disappoint, winning the Heisman and leading Oregon with 38 TDs and only two interceptions. Mariota also ran for 14 TDs this season. He is is the first Oregon player and the first Hawaiian to win the Heisman.
3. Oregon is Wearing Special Uniforms for the Game
Photos: Oregon Rose Bowl uniforms http://t.co/kh6uoMNScU #GoDucks http://t.co/G6Od2ZnHcq
Known as one of the best dressed teams in college football, thanks to its close relationship with Nike, Oregon typically wears flashy uniform combinations throughout the season. They will be outfitted with a new all-green kit especially for the Rose Bowl.
Oregon’s Rose Bowl helmets http://t.co/5GG2wiklSt (H/T @ForrestGmitro, @UOPintens )
4. The Game Will be on ESPN
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The Rose Bowl will be televised on both ESPN and ESPN Deportes and will be broadcast on ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio at 5 p.m. ET. You can also view the live stream of the game here.
5. There Are Still Rose Bowl Tickets Available
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According to Ticketmaster.com, there are seats available with single tickets available on a limited basis. The going rate for a single seat near mid-field was starting at $251 with VIP packages selling for upwards of $873 per person.
Seating capacity for football games at the Rose Bowl is 92,542 and the game is expected to sell out by kickoff on Thursday.
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Rose Bowl 2015: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know