1959 Rose Bowl

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The 1959 Rose Bowl was the 45th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Thursday, January 1. The heavily-favored and second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference defeated the #16 California Golden Bears of the Pacific Coast Conference, 38–12. Iowa's star halfback Bob Jeter was named the Player of the Game.^[2][3] Iowa improved to 8–1–1 and California fell to 7–4 for the season.

Iowa, 7–1–1, was behind undefeated LSU in the two major polls. LSU was ranked number one in both major polls since week 6 of the season. LSU's Sugar Bowl win over higher ranked #12 Clemson was convincing and was awarded the national championship by the Associated Press and the Coaches' Poll (UPI), as well as by 37 other selectors. Iowa finished first in the football writers poll.

Future Berkeley, California city mayor Tom Bates was a member of the California Golden Bears team.

It was the sixth straight Rose Bowl win for the Big Ten, and the twelfth of the last thirteen.^[3] The PCC disbanded in the spring and five of its members formed the new AAWU (Big Five), while the other four competed as independents for several years. It is the last time Cal has appeared in the Rose Bowl.