

Ohio State fans are celebrating their electrifying 28-14 win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl, but not everyone’s thrilled with the outcome. While the Buckeyes’ victory secured them a spot in the national championship, Texas fans are heartbroken. Among those feeling the sting? Joe Rogan’s adopted step-daughter, Kayja Rose, who took to Instagram to express her frustration with a playful twist. But before we get to that…
Rose (legal name: Kayja Nichole Conner) was reportedly born to Kevin “Dino” Connor—singer of the award-winning R&B group H-Town—and Jessica Ditzel in 1996. After the couple separated in the year 2000, Jessica started dating the UFC color commentator a year later, with Rose moving in with them. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Connor and his then pregnant fiancee were killed in a car accident on January 28, 2003. The duo was reportedly parked at a red light when a speeding SUV reportedly crashed into the vehicle, killing the fiancee on impact. Connor died on his way to the hospital.
Rogan reportedly adopted Kayja when he married Jessica in 2009. He also had shares two biological daughters with his wife of 15 years: Lola and Rosy, born in 2008, and 2010, respectively. While the podcaster is very private when it comes to its family, on one rare occasion he did share his gratitude for his children. Talking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast (Episode #2172) with bestselling author Sebastian Junger, he said, “I think the universe did me a solid by giving me only daughters because you have a different perspective hanging – like, if I had a son, I’d be like, ‘Oh, I got to keep this savage out of jail’ because I’m passing my genes.”
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Notably, Kayja has followed in her biological father’s footsteps, and is an aspiring R&B music artist. She regularly uploads new music on her Soundcloud and Spotify accounts. Boasting around 10k followers on Instagram, Rose also enjoys 97 monthly listeners on her Spotify. Having said that, for Rose, this time is rather difficult, as her favorite college football team just faced a very heartbreaking loss. Talking about it on her Instagram Stories, the 29 said, “Ohio how dare you!” Her four-word post struck a chord with fans across both sides, proving that the game had people talking long after the final whistle. So, what exactly went down on the field that left fans like Kayja feeling the heartbreak?
From the moment the game kicked off, it was clear that it was going to be a battle of wills. Ohio State wasted no time showcasing their dominance, with Quinshon Judkins bursting into the end zone for an early touchdown. But Texas wasn’t backing down easily. TreVeyon Henderson made a stunning 75-yard screen pass that left Longhorns defenders scrambling to catch up.
The Buckeyes’ defense was relentless. Despite the setback, Texas didn’t give up. Ewers managed to tie the game at 14-14 in the third quarter, but Ohio’s defensive line shut down any hope of a Texas comeback. The game-changing moment came late in the fourth quarter when Jack Sawyer emerged to blindside Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, recover the fumble, and sprint a remarkable 83 yards for a game-clinching touchdown.

via Getty
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 29: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 29, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
By the end of it, Ohio State had secured their spot in the national championship against Notre Dame on January 20. The Longhorns, on the other hand, were eliminated from national championship contention this year. However, for Kayja, this loss stung more than expected, especially since she, like her dad, Joe Rogan, is such a passionate football fan.
Buried in controversies and UFC, did Joe Rogan take on college football’s business, too?
If you’ve tuned into The Joe Rogan Experience, you know that Joe Rogan is just as passionate about college football as he is about the UFC. From reminiscing about football legends like Bo Jackson and Jerry Rice to admiring the incredible athletes the sport has produced, Rogan’s love for the game is evident. But while he’s a fan, he’s also highly critical of the sport’s flaws.
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One recurring theme in Rogan’s discussions? The NCAA’s historical exploitation of student-athletes. For years, college players were responsible for generating billions in revenue for their schools, but they didn’t receive any of it. Rogan has made his stance clear on this issue.
On episode #2242 of his podcast with Bert Sorin, Rogan said, “I always said they should’ve been paying those kids a long time ago. They should retroactively pay all those athletes.” Rogan went on to emphasize how much money the NCAA has made off the hard work of these athletes.
Then came the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) policy in July 2021, which finally allowed college athletes to earn money from their personal brand and endorsements. This was a huge shift in college football, but it’s not without its complications. With minimal regulation and no salary cap, the recruiting process has become much more unpredictable. Sorin shared stories of athletes on recruiting trips demanding hefty signing bonuses, sometimes as much as $250,000, just to consider a school.
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But for Rogan, it’s about ensuring that athletes get the recognition and financial reward they’ve long deserved. “It’s only fair,” he said, as businesses start providing cars, cash, and other incentives to top players.
What do you think? Are NIL deals the change that college athletes have been waiting for? Or do they open a whole new set of challenges and issues? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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