10/10/2024 12:41:00 PM | General
The 2024-25 college football season features 13 games that are rematches of past Rose Bowl Games. With conference realignment moving Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington to the Big Ten, many of the rematches are now regular season conference games.
In week seven of the 2024 college football season there are an astonishing five matchups of historical Rose Bowl Games. The most matchups span seven decades and date back more than 100 years.
Penn State vs. USC
The first Rose Bowl Game rematch is Penn State visiting USC. The Nittany Lions and Trojans have met three times in The Granddaddy of Them All, the 1923, 2009 and 2017 games, all won by USC.
The 1923 game was the first time the bowl game was called "The Rose Bowl Game." It was previously called the Tournament of Roses East-West Football Game. USC won the 1923 game, 14-3, after Penn State arrived to the stadium 15 minutes after the game was scheduled to start due to traffic.
The Trojans won in 2009 a little more handily, 38-24. USC scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter, led by quarterback Mark Sanchez who threw a pair of touchdowns and scored another on the ground. In the win, Sanchez became just the third player in Rose Bowl Game history to pass for 400 yards.
The 2017 Rose Bowl Game is among the best ever played. USC and Penn State were among the hottest teams in America entering the game and neither team slowed down in Pasadena. The teams combined for 101 points, breaking the record of 83 combined points before the start of the fourth quarter. USC led 13-0 after the first quarter but Penn State came back with a vengeance across the second and third quarters. In the third quarter, the Nittany Lions scored on three straight offensive plays, a 79 yard Saquon Barkley run, a 72 yard Chris Godwin reception and a 3 yard Trace McSorley run after an interception. But it was the Trojans who made the final run as USC overcame a 49-35 deficit to start the fourth quarter and won on a Matt Boermeester 46 yard field goal as time expired to cap off one of the greatest games ever played on January 1.
Stanford vs. Notre Dame
When the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential kicks off on January 1, 2025, it will mark 100 years since Stanford and Notre Dame played in the 11th edition of The Granddaddy of Them All.
It was a particularly special New Year's Day in 1925 when Stanford and Notre Dame played. Two legendary coaches faced off as Notre Dame's Knute Rockne and Stanford's Pop Warner led their teams to Pasadena.
The game also featured the Four Horseman of Notre Dame, Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Elmer Layden, who led the Fighting Irish to the 27-10 victory in the game. Layden was the star as he scored three touchdowns, including two interceptions returned for scores. Despite the loss, Stanford had a star in the making in Ernie Nevers, who ran 34 times for 114 yards just 10 day after having casts removed from both ankles. He played the entire game on defense and had an interception that set up the only Stanford touchdown.
Ohio State vs. Oregon
The Buckeyes and Ducks have played twice in the Rose Bowl Game, with Ohio State earning victories in both games.
The 1958 game pitted two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum. Ohio State was the #1 team in the country and on an eight-game winning streak. Oregon was 7-3 and had lost two of their last three games, including a loss to their rivals, Oregon State, who also finished 7-3. But the Beavers played in the 1957 Rose Bowl Game and the Pacific Coast Conference had a no-repeat rule, so the Ducks would represent the conference in Pasadena.
Despite being 19-point underdogs, Oregon battled Ohio State to the bitter end. The Ducks out-gained Ohio State, 351 yards to 304 yards, but the Buckeyes won 10-7 on a fourth quarter field goal.
In the 2010 game, Ohio State took more control, as the Buckeyes held the ball for a Rose Bowl Game record 41 minutes. OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor set career highs in completions, attempts and yards, while also running for a game-high 72 yards on 20 carries. Even with holding the ball for more than two-thirds of the game, Oregon took a 17-16 lead early in the third quarter, but it would be their final points of the day as the Buckeyes scored the final 10 points for a 26-17 victory.
Minnesota vs. UCLA
The Gophers and Bruins have played three times, but just one of those meetings was in the Rose Bowl Game.
The 1962 Rose Bowl was a game of firsts and lasts. It marked the first-ever college football game broadcast in living color, allowing a national audience to witness Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens become the first African-American Player of the Game. The 98,214 fans in attendance watched Stephens lead the Golden Gophers to a 21–3 victory over UCLA.
Minnesota entered the game seeking redemption after a 17–7 loss to Washington in the 1961 Rose Bowl, which had drawn harsh criticism from West Coast writers. Despite finishing second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State, Minnesota received the Rose Bowl bid after Ohio State's Faculty Council declined. Coach Murray Warmath credited their previous Rose Bowl experience for calming his veterans, while the Gophers' defense, anchored by All-American Bobby Bell, stifled UCLA's offense, limiting them to just 107 yards.
Stephens was the star of the game, accounting for more yards than UCLA's entire offense. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 75 yards and added 46 rushing yards, including two short touchdown runs. After UCLA struck first with a field goal, Stephens led Minnesota on three scoring drives, including a game-sealing 84-yard march.
Iowa vs. Washington
The Washington Huskies dictated the game against Iowa in two different Rose Bowl Game matchups, displaying their defensive prowess and offensive firepower.
In the 1982 Rose Bowl Game, Washington shut out Iowa 28–0, marking the first Rose Bowl shutout since 1953. Led by a relentless defense and standout performances from linebacker Tony Caldwell and running back Jacque Robinson, the Huskies stifled Iowa's offense, forcing turnovers and keeping them out of scoring range. Robinson, who rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, earned Player of the Game honors.
In another lopsided affair, Washington jumped to a commanding 33–7 halftime lead over Iowa in the 1991 Granddaddy of Them All. Quarterback Mark Brunell, named Player of the Game, accounted for four touchdowns and led the Huskies to a 46–34 victory. Despite a furious 20-point rally from Iowa in the fourth quarter, Washington's early dominance, including two interceptions by Charles Mincy, sealed Iowa's fate.
In week seven of the 2024 college football season there are an astonishing five matchups of historical Rose Bowl Games. The most matchups span seven decades and date back more than 100 years.
Penn State vs. USC
The first Rose Bowl Game rematch is Penn State visiting USC. The Nittany Lions and Trojans have met three times in The Granddaddy of Them All, the 1923, 2009 and 2017 games, all won by USC.
The 1923 game was the first time the bowl game was called "The Rose Bowl Game." It was previously called the Tournament of Roses East-West Football Game. USC won the 1923 game, 14-3, after Penn State arrived to the stadium 15 minutes after the game was scheduled to start due to traffic.
The Trojans won in 2009 a little more handily, 38-24. USC scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter, led by quarterback Mark Sanchez who threw a pair of touchdowns and scored another on the ground. In the win, Sanchez became just the third player in Rose Bowl Game history to pass for 400 yards.
The 2017 Rose Bowl Game is among the best ever played. USC and Penn State were among the hottest teams in America entering the game and neither team slowed down in Pasadena. The teams combined for 101 points, breaking the record of 83 combined points before the start of the fourth quarter. USC led 13-0 after the first quarter but Penn State came back with a vengeance across the second and third quarters. In the third quarter, the Nittany Lions scored on three straight offensive plays, a 79 yard Saquon Barkley run, a 72 yard Chris Godwin reception and a 3 yard Trace McSorley run after an interception. But it was the Trojans who made the final run as USC overcame a 49-35 deficit to start the fourth quarter and won on a Matt Boermeester 46 yard field goal as time expired to cap off one of the greatest games ever played on January 1.
Stanford vs. Notre Dame
When the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential kicks off on January 1, 2025, it will mark 100 years since Stanford and Notre Dame played in the 11th edition of The Granddaddy of Them All.
It was a particularly special New Year's Day in 1925 when Stanford and Notre Dame played. Two legendary coaches faced off as Notre Dame's Knute Rockne and Stanford's Pop Warner led their teams to Pasadena.
The game also featured the Four Horseman of Notre Dame, Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Elmer Layden, who led the Fighting Irish to the 27-10 victory in the game. Layden was the star as he scored three touchdowns, including two interceptions returned for scores. Despite the loss, Stanford had a star in the making in Ernie Nevers, who ran 34 times for 114 yards just 10 day after having casts removed from both ankles. He played the entire game on defense and had an interception that set up the only Stanford touchdown.
Ohio State vs. Oregon
The Buckeyes and Ducks have played twice in the Rose Bowl Game, with Ohio State earning victories in both games.
The 1958 game pitted two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum. Ohio State was the #1 team in the country and on an eight-game winning streak. Oregon was 7-3 and had lost two of their last three games, including a loss to their rivals, Oregon State, who also finished 7-3. But the Beavers played in the 1957 Rose Bowl Game and the Pacific Coast Conference had a no-repeat rule, so the Ducks would represent the conference in Pasadena.
Despite being 19-point underdogs, Oregon battled Ohio State to the bitter end. The Ducks out-gained Ohio State, 351 yards to 304 yards, but the Buckeyes won 10-7 on a fourth quarter field goal.
In the 2010 game, Ohio State took more control, as the Buckeyes held the ball for a Rose Bowl Game record 41 minutes. OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor set career highs in completions, attempts and yards, while also running for a game-high 72 yards on 20 carries. Even with holding the ball for more than two-thirds of the game, Oregon took a 17-16 lead early in the third quarter, but it would be their final points of the day as the Buckeyes scored the final 10 points for a 26-17 victory.
Minnesota vs. UCLA
The Gophers and Bruins have played three times, but just one of those meetings was in the Rose Bowl Game.
The 1962 Rose Bowl was a game of firsts and lasts. It marked the first-ever college football game broadcast in living color, allowing a national audience to witness Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens become the first African-American Player of the Game. The 98,214 fans in attendance watched Stephens lead the Golden Gophers to a 21–3 victory over UCLA.
Minnesota entered the game seeking redemption after a 17–7 loss to Washington in the 1961 Rose Bowl, which had drawn harsh criticism from West Coast writers. Despite finishing second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State, Minnesota received the Rose Bowl bid after Ohio State's Faculty Council declined. Coach Murray Warmath credited their previous Rose Bowl experience for calming his veterans, while the Gophers' defense, anchored by All-American Bobby Bell, stifled UCLA's offense, limiting them to just 107 yards.
Stephens was the star of the game, accounting for more yards than UCLA's entire offense. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 75 yards and added 46 rushing yards, including two short touchdown runs. After UCLA struck first with a field goal, Stephens led Minnesota on three scoring drives, including a game-sealing 84-yard march.
Iowa vs. Washington
The Washington Huskies dictated the game against Iowa in two different Rose Bowl Game matchups, displaying their defensive prowess and offensive firepower.
In the 1982 Rose Bowl Game, Washington shut out Iowa 28–0, marking the first Rose Bowl shutout since 1953. Led by a relentless defense and standout performances from linebacker Tony Caldwell and running back Jacque Robinson, the Huskies stifled Iowa's offense, forcing turnovers and keeping them out of scoring range. Robinson, who rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, earned Player of the Game honors.
In another lopsided affair, Washington jumped to a commanding 33–7 halftime lead over Iowa in the 1991 Granddaddy of Them All. Quarterback Mark Brunell, named Player of the Game, accounted for four touchdowns and led the Huskies to a 46–34 victory. Despite a furious 20-point rally from Iowa in the fourth quarter, Washington's early dominance, including two interceptions by Charles Mincy, sealed Iowa's fate.
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