1973 Rose Bowl

American college football game August 2023 December 2025 1973 Rose Bowl 59th Rose Bowl Game National Championship Gamehttps://latimes.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-1973-rose-bowl-coa/112200729/ Prugh Jeff Trojans, Buckeyes battle for No. 1 Los Angeles Times January 1, 1973 January 13, 2025 Well, the college football world can stop arguing about who will be No. 1 after today's Rose Bowl game. Woody Hayes says the winner will be national champion. So does John McKay, who reversed his field the other day by declaring that yes, his USC Trojans’ top ranking will be very much at stake.Through luck and fortuitous scheduling, a "national championship game" was occasionally able to settle the matter on the field, as described in some contemporaneous reports.Barbati Carl Cannizzaro Mark January 3, 1988 Should there be college Super Bowl? https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111956213/should-there-be-college-super-bowl/ The Courier–News Bridgewater, New Jersey October 24, 2022 Only luck ensures one of the many current bowl games gets the No. 1 and No. 2 teams to play each other. October 25, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221025034152/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111956213/should-there-be-college-super-bowl/ live Despite the promotional billing, in several instances there were plausible scenarios for a third team to be selected as national champion by the major selectors, depending on outcomes of other games.:1972 One-loss Oklahoma, No. 2 in final regular season polls, won the Sugar Bowl and remained No. 2 after the bowls. 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State University USC Trojans University of Southern California 9–1 Big Ten 11–0 Pac-8 Woody Hayes John McKay 3 3 1 1 0 7 3 7 7 0 21 14 January 1 Rose Bowl Pasadena, California Sam Cunningham (USC RB) USC by 14 points https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6dgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6963%2C331077 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Unbeaten Trojans host OSU in Rose January 1, 1973 62 The Ohio State University Marching Band Paul Kamanski (Pac-8) (split crew: Pac-8, Big Ten) Spirit of Troy, The Ohio State University Marching Band 106,869 (Bowl game and stadium record) NBC List of announcers of major college bowl games Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis 30.0 National championship game(excluding Coaches Poll):1972 1972 1973 (Dec) The 1973 Rose Bowl was the 59th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, January 1. It matched the undefeated and top-ranked USC Trojans of the Pacific-8 Conference with the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference.https://vault.si.com/vault/1973/01/08/no-doubt-about-whos-champ https://web.archive.org/web/20200827213746/https://vault.si.com/vault/1973/01/08/no-doubt-about-whos-champ dead August 27, 2020 Sports Illustrated No doubt about who's champ Jenkins Dan Dan Jenkins January 8, 1973 20https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8QwrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fpoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6276%2C754705 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Stevenson Jack McKay elated as Trojans manhandle Ohio St. January 2, 1973 28https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nnMUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OwIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7333%2C596548 Toledo Blade Ohio Loomis Tom No. 1 Trojans earn place with all-time best January 2, 1973 28https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=njoTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7vcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5374%2C1684223 The Bulletin Bend, Oregon UPI USC leaves no doubt – it's No. 1 January 2, 1973 10 The game was a de facto national championship game, both teams competing for the Associated Press (AP) title, with #2 Oklahoma having won its bowl game for a potential title claim. USC running back Sam Cunningham scored four touchdowns in the second half and was named the Player of the Game, as the favored Trojans won 42–17.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gBonAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6743%2C342195 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press It's 'bring on Miami' after USC wins easily January 2, 1973 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xqdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3481%2C680059 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Balloting mere formality as Trojans ruin Buckeyes January 2, 1973 172008 Rose Bowl Program https://web.archive.org/web/20080306033551/http://www.bowlprograms.com/rosebowl/?pg=182 2008-03-06 , 2008 Rose Bowl. Accessed January 26, 2008. They were unanimous national champions in both major polls, the first time in college football history.Christine Daniels – The 1972 Trojans. Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2008 (The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BgorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4pkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6463%2C3157826 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania UPI UPI board unanimous on Trojans December 5, 1972 23https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2VNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3504%2C6173965 Bend Bulletin Oregon UPI USC claims 3rd national title in 10 years December 5, 1972 12 The attendance of 106,869 set the stadium record, as well as the NCAA bowl game record.UCLA Football – 2007 UCLA Football (Media Guide). UCLA Athletic Department (2007), page 165 (PDF copy available at www.uclabruins.com) 2002 NCAA Records book – Attendance Records https://web.archive.org/web/20080408122057/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2002/487-501a.pdf April 8, 2008 page 494 (PDF) Teams 1972 NCAA University Division football season The national championship was on the line for #1 USC, and likely #3 Ohio State. Although #2 Oklahoma already had defeated Penn State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve to finish their season 11–1, a win in the Rose Bowl for the Buckeyes might well have swayed the voters to put Ohio State at #1.Prugh Jeff January 1, 1973 ROSE BOWL COACHES AGREE: Trojans, Bukeyes Battle for No. 1 https://latimes.newspapers.com/clip/112200729/1973-rose-bowl-coaches-agree/ The Los Angeles Times October 29, 2022 Well, the college football world can stop arguing about who will be No. 1 after today's Rose Bowl game. USC 1972 USC Trojans football team The USC Trojans won all eleven games in the 1972 regular season. Their opener against #4 Arkansas propelled them to the top of the polls, where they remained throughout the season. They had help from new head coach Pepper Rodgers' UCLA Bruins, who had defeated #1 Nebraska to start the season, led by junior college transfer quarterback Mark Harmon. The Trojans' closest contest was a 30–21 defeat of #15 Stanford. In the UCLA–USC rivalry game with the Rose Bowl on the line for both teams, the Bruins were outmatched by the Trojans 24–7. USC then soundly defeated Notre Dame 45–23 behind the six touchdowns of Anthony Davis.Oates, Bob "Anthony Scores Six TDs; Trojans Rout Irish, 45-23". Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1972 Quarterbacking duties were shared by Mike Rae and Pat Haden. The Trojans were favored by two touchdowns in this Rose Bowl, the first of three consecutive appearances, all against Ohio State. Ohio State 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team This was the first year that freshmen were eligible for varsity football in the University Division (now FBS) due to the NCAA rescinding an earlier rule, and it was the first of four Rose Bowl appearances for freshman Archie Griffin. Ohio State had one loss at Michigan State, 19–12 on November 11. USC had demolished the Spartans 51–6 only five weeks earlier in a night game at the Coliseum. Against rival Michigan, the Rose Bowl was on the line for both teams; the Big Ten had rescinded its long-standing "no repeat" rule, so Michigan was eligible to play in the Rose Bowl for a second straight year, and the unbeaten Wolverines were a slight favorite over the Buckeyes in Columbus. However, Ohio State used a defensive goal line stand in the first half and another in the second half to beat #3 Michigan 14–11. The Buckeyes and Wolverines shared the Big Ten title, and the conference's athletic directors voted to give Ohio State the Rose Bowl bid. Because the Big Ten and Pac-8 did not yet permit teams to play in any postseason game except the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines stayed at home. The two conferences allowed multiple bowl teams starting with the 1975 season. Game summary At the half, the score was tied at seven. USC running back Sam Cunningham exploded for four touchdowns in the second half and Anthony Davis added another as the Trojans coasted to a 32-point lead. Ohio State scored a touchdown in the last minute and the final score was 42–17. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Pac-8, but that streak ended in the next year's rematch. Scoring First quarter USC – Lynn Swann 10-yard pass from Mike Rae (Rae kick), 1:30 Second quarter OSU – Randy Keith 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 13:37 Third quarter USC – Sam Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick), 12:18 OSU – Conway 21-yard field goal, 8:11 USC – Anthony Davis 20-yard run (Rae kick), 5:51 USC – Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick), 1:25 Fourth quarter USC – Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick), 9:10 USC – Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick), 5:13 OSU – John Bledsoe 5 run (Conway kick), 0:34 Statistics {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics !!3Ohio3State !!   USC   |- | align=left|First downs || 21|| 24 |- | align=left|Rushes–yards|| 62–285|| 45–207 |- | align=left|Passing yards || 81|| 244 |- | align=left|Passes || 5–11–2 || 19–27–0 |- | align=left|Total yards || 366|| 451 |- | align=left|Punts–average || 5–36|| 4–41 |- | align=left|Fumbles–lost ||2–1|| 2–1 |- | align=left|Turnovers by|| 3|| 1 |- | align=left|Penalties–yards ||2–7|| 6–48 |} Source: Aftermath Rose Bowl records Cunningham set three modern Rose Bowl records with four touchdowns in his final college football game. As of 2008, the records for touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and points scored have been matched by Eric Ball (1986), Ron Dayne (1999), and Vince Young (2006). A Rose Bowl record for most points in a half at 45 was set in the second half (USC 35, Ohio State 10). This was later tied in 1999 (Wisconsin 24, UCLA 21) and surpassed by USC and Texas with 53 points in the second half in 2006. The record attendance of this year was later approached, but never be matched again in the Rose Bowl. In 1998, the Rose Bowl stadium was renovated and had its seating capacity reduced, and was no longer the largest football stadium in the United States. As of the 2008 Rose Bowl game, the Rose Bowl game still draws the largest crowds of any post-season college football contest. Ohio State–USC This was the first of three Ohio State-USC matchups in the Rose Bowl in the 1970s. It was the first of four consecutive Rose Bowl appearances for the Buckeyes under head coach Woody Hayes and two-time Heisman trophy winner Archie Griffin. Prior to the game contest, Hayes pushed a camera into the face of a local news photographer, screaming, "That'll take care of you, you son of a bitch." Hayes was ejected and left California with a subpoena.Violent World Of Woody Hayes. Time Magazine, January 15, 1979Steve Greenberg and Laura Lanese – Game of My Life: Memorable Stories of Buckeye Football, 2006 Sports Publishing LLC, 1-58261-821-6 The Buckeyes won the rematch the following year, the sole Rose Bowl victory for the Big Ten in the 1970s. NFL players The 1972 Trojans had 33 players selected in the next several NFL drafts, including five first-round selections: Charle Young, Sam Cunningham, Pete Adams, Lynn Swann, and Steve Riley. The 1972 Trojan team was named one of the best teams of the Twentieth century. The Buckeyes had eight eventual NFL first round selections: Tim Fox, Archie Griffin, Kurt Schumacher, Doug France, Neal Colzie, John Hicks, Rick Middleton, and Randy Gradishar Legacy Sports announcer Keith Jackson identified the 1972 USC Trojans as the greatest team he ever saw. Sportswriter Beano Cook placed them at third of his all time teams on the basis of that assertion.Beano Cook, All-time top 25: '47 Irish were greatest, ESPN.com, August 1, 2007. The Sporting News ranked the 1972 Trojans in their top 25 greatest teams. Quotes "I never saw any team that could beat them," USC head coach John McKay said. Washington State head coach Jim Sweeney disagreed. "USC's not the No. 1 team in the country," said Sweeney, whose Cougars endured a 44–3 loss to the Trojans. "The [1972] Miami Dolphins are better." Notes References 2 Bibliography University of Southern California football media guide. (PDF copy available at www.usctrojans.com) Ohio State University football media guide. (PDF copy available at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com) College Football's Twenty-Five Greatest Teams: The Sporting News. 0-89204-281-8 Park Jack The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia: National Championship Edition Sports Publishing LLC 2003 1-58261-695-7 Rose Bowl Category:Rose Bowl Game Category:20th century in Pasadena, California Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football bowl games Category:USC Trojans football bowl games Category:January 1973 sports events in the United States Rose Bowl