| 1973 Rose Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 59th Rose Bowl Game National championship game[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 1, 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Rose Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Pasadena, California | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Sam Cunningham (USC RB) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | USC by 14 points [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| National anthem | The Ohio State University Marching Band | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Paul Kamanski (Pac-8) (split crew: Pac-8, Big Ten) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | Spirit of Troy, The Ohio State University Marching Band | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 106,869 (Bowl game and stadium record) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | NBC | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nielsen ratings | 30.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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.[3][4][5][6] The game was a de facto national championship game, as both teams would compete for the Associated Press (AP) title.[1]
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.[3][7][8][9] They were unanimous national champions in both major polls, the first time in college football history.[10] (The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.)[11][12]
The attendance of 106,869 set the stadium record, as well as the NCAA bowl game record.[13][14]
- ^ a b Prugh, Jeff (January 1, 1973). "Trojans, Buckeyes battle for No. 1". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 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.
- ^ "Unbeaten Trojans host OSU in Rose". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 1, 1973. p. 62.
- ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (January 8, 1973). "No doubt about who's champ". Sports Illustrated. p. 20.
- ^ Stevenson, Jack (January 2, 1973). "McKay elated as Trojans manhandle Ohio St". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 28.
- ^ Loomis, Tom (January 2, 1973). "No. 1 Trojans earn place with all-time best". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 28.
- ^ "USC leaves no doubt – it's No. 1". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. January 2, 1973. p. 10.
- ^ "It's 'bring on Miami' after USC wins easily". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 3B.
- ^ "Balloting mere formality as Trojans ruin Buckeyes". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 17.
- ^ 2008 Rose Bowl Program Archived 2008-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, 2008 Rose Bowl. Accessed January 26, 2008.
- ^ Christine Daniels – The 1972 Trojans. Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2008
- ^ "UPI board unanimous on Trojans". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. December 5, 1972. p. 23.
- ^ "USC claims 3rd national title in 10 years". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). UPI. December 5, 1972. p. 12.
- ^ 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 Archived April 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine page 494 (PDF)