PASADENA, Calif. — It has been an up and down year for the University of Utah football team.
WATCH: Utes roll out special Rose Bowl uniforms
The early part of the season saw losses to San Diego State and in-state rival BYU.
Then Aaron Lowe was shot and killed at a house party, less than a year after star Ty Jordan died in an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.
READ: Teammates, family gather for funeral of Aaron Lowe
Yet, as New Year's Day approaches, the Utes are getting ready to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena Saturday.
Ute center Nick Ford says there's one word to describe this Utah team, and that word is "grit."
