1988 Rose Bowl

1988 Rose Bowl
74th Rose Bowl Game
USC Trojans Michigan State Spartans
(8–3) (8–2–1)
17 20
Head coach: 
Larry Smith		 Head coach: 
George Perles
APCoaches
1617
APCoaches
88
1234 Total
USC 3077 17
Michigan State 7706 20
DateJanuary 1, 1988
Season1987
StadiumRose Bowl
LocationPasadena, California
MVPPercy Snow (MSU LB)
FavoriteUSC by 3 points[1]
National anthemSpirit of Troy
RefereeGil Marchman (Big Ten;
split crew between
Big Ten and Pac-10)
Halftime showSpirit of Troy,
Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band
Attendance101,688
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersDick Enberg, Merlin Olsen
Rose Bowl
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The 1988 Rose Bowl was the 74th edition of the college football bowl game, played on January 1, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Michigan State Spartans defeated the USC Trojans 20–17 in a bowl rematch that was much closer than the 27–13 Spartan victory in the regular season. Michigan State linebacker Percy Snow was named the Player of the Game.[2][3][4]

This was the last Rose Bowl game televised by NBC Sports, ending a 37-year partnership. ABC Sports picked up rights to broadcast the game the following year.

This was the Big Ten's first Rose Bowl win in seven years.[3]

  1. ^ "The latest line: college football". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1988. p. 28.
  2. ^ Peters, Ken (January 2, 1988). "Big 10 blooms again with Rose Bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. B1.
  3. ^ a b May, Peter (January 2, 1988). "Hold Big Ten jokes: Spartans take roses". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Hartford Courant). p. 1B.
  4. ^ 2008 Rose Bowl Program Archived March 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, 2008 Rose Bowl. Accessed January 26, 2008.