The 1985 Rose Bowl Game was a postseason college football bowl game between the USC Trojans of the Pacific-10 Conference and Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, held on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.[4][5][6] The game resulted in a 20–17 victory for the underdog Trojans.[7][8][9]

1985 Rose Bowl
71st Rose Bowl Game
1234 Total
USC 10730 20
Ohio State 3338 17
DateJanuary 1, 1985
Season1984
StadiumRose Bowl
LocationPasadena, California
MVPTim Green (QB, USC)
Jack Del Rio (LB, USC)
FavoriteOhio State by 3½ points [1][2][3]
National anthemOhio State University Marching Band
RefereeJames Sprenger (Pac-10);
split crew: Pac-10, Big Ten)
Halftime showOhio State University Marching Band, Spirit of Troy
Attendance102,594
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersDick Enberg, Merlin Olsen
Rose Bowl
 < 1984  1986

Scoring summary

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First quarter
  • Ohio State – Spangler 21-yard field goal, 12:08 – OSU 3, USC 0[10]
  • USC – Jordan 51-yard field goal, 6:52 – OSU 3, USC 3
  • USC – Cormier 3-yard pass from Green (Jordan kick) 1:54 – USC 10, OSU 3
Second quarter
  • USC – Ware 19-yard pass from Green (Jordan kick) – USC 17, OSU 3
  • Ohio State – Spangler 46-yard field goal, 0:00 – USC 17, OSU 6
Third quarter
  • Ohio State – Spangler 52-yard field goal, 6:37 – USC 17, OSU 9
  • USC – Jordan 51-yard field goal, 4:05 – USC 20, OSU 9
Fourth quarter
  • Ohio StateCarter 18-yard pass from Tomczak (Tomczak run), 7:34 – USC 20, OSU 17
Source:[11]

Tim Green and Jack Del Rio earned the Rose Bowl MVP awards.

 
Rose Bowl records
at the Hall of Champions

Highlights

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  • With fourth straight win, Pac-10 takes its first lead in the series with the Big Ten, 20–19
    • Pac-10 has won ten of eleven, and fourteen of the last sixteen meetings
  • Using a swarming defense, USC caused three Mike Tomczak interceptions
  • Tomczak threw 37 passes in the game
  • Ohio State kicker Rich Spangler scored a Rose Bowl-record 52-yard field goal
  • USC kicker Steve Jordan had two 51-yard field goals
  • Big contribution from Trojans' Tim Green and Timmie Ware, Joe Cormier, Fred Crutcher, and Kennedy Pola

Statistics

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Statistics      USC          Ohio    
State
First downs 16 19
Rushes–yards 42–133 34–113
Passing yards 128 290
Passes 13–25–0 24–37–3
Total yards 261 403
Punts–average 7–42 4–48
Fumbles–lost 2–1 4–1
Turnovers by 1 4
Penalties–yards 4–38 4–46
Time of possession 31:11 28:47
Source:[5][6][11]

References

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  1. ^ "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1985. p. 39.
  2. ^ "Rose Bowl". Pittsburgh Press. December 31, 1984. p. D3.
  3. ^ "Betting line". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). January 1, 1985. p. 15.
  4. ^ "USC holds on to beat Ohio State, 20–17". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). wire services. January 2, 1985. p. 34.
  5. ^ a b "USC smells the roses again, 20–17". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1985. p. B1.
  6. ^ a b Brennan, Christine (January 2, 1985). "Trojans play familiar tune at Rose Bowl". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Washington Post). p. 1C.
  7. ^ Rose Bowl Game Photo Timeline, 1980–1989, Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Accessed July 21, 2009. July 23, 2009.
  8. ^ Tosches, Rich (January 2, 1985). "USC downs champs of not-so-Big Ten". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. p. D1.
  9. ^ Gugger, John (January 2, 1985). "Big Ten string of losses in Rose Bowl continues". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 24.
  10. ^ Historical Media Guide, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, 2009
  11. ^ a b "Rose Bowl". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). January 2, 1985. p. 36.