1973 Rose Bowl

1973 Rose Bowl
59th Rose Bowl Game
National Championship Game
Ohio State Buckeyes USC Trojans
(9–1) (11–0)
Big Ten Pac-8
17 42
Head coach: 
Woody Hayes		 Head coach: 
John McKay
APCoaches
33
APCoaches
11
1234 Total
Ohio State 0737 17
USC 702114 42
DateJanuary 1, 1973
Season1972
StadiumRose Bowl
LocationPasadena, California
MVPSam Cunningham (USC RB)
FavoriteUSC by 14 points [1]
National anthemThe Ohio State University Marching Band
RefereePaul Kamanski (Pac-8)
(split crew: Pac-8, Big Ten)
Halftime showSpirit of Troy, The Ohio State University Marching Band
Attendance106,869 (Bowl game and stadium record)
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersCurt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis
Nielsen ratings30.0
Rose Bowl
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College Football Championship Game
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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.[2][3][4][5]

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.[2][6][7][8] They were unanimous national champions in both major polls, the first time in college football history.[9] (The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.)[10][11]

The attendance of 106,869 set the stadium record, as well as the NCAA bowl game record.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Unbeaten Trojans host OSU in Rose". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 1, 1973. p. 62.
  2. ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (January 8, 1973). "No doubt about who's champ". Sports Illustrated. p. 20.
  3. ^ Stevenson, Jack (January 2, 1973). "McKay elated as Trojans manhandle Ohio St". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 28.
  4. ^ Loomis, Tom (January 2, 1973). "No. 1 Trojans earn place with all-time best". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 28.
  5. ^ "USC leaves no doubt – it's No. 1". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. January 2, 1973. p. 10.
  6. ^ "It's 'bring on Miami' after USC wins easily". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 3B.
  7. ^ "Balloting mere formality as Trojans ruin Buckeyes". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 17.
  8. ^ 2008 Rose Bowl Program Archived 2008-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, 2008 Rose Bowl. Accessed January 26, 2008.
  9. ^ Christine Daniels – The 1972 Trojans. Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2008
  10. ^ "UPI board unanimous on Trojans". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. December 5, 1972. p. 23.
  11. ^ "USC claims 3rd national title in 10 years". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. December 5, 1972. p. 12.
  12. ^ UCLA Football – 2007 UCLA Football (Media Guide). UCLA Athletic Department (2007), page 165 (PDF copy available at www.uclabruins.com)
  13. ^ 2002 NCAA Records book – Attendance Records Archived April 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine page 494 (PDF)