2009 Rose Bowl

2009 Rose Bowl was the 95th edition of the annual Rose Bowl Game and a Bowl Championship Series contest. It featured the fifth-ranked USC Trojans of the Pacific-10 Conference and the eighth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. The game, played on January 1, 2009, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, resulted in a decisive 38–24 victory for Pete Carroll's Trojans.

Background

The matchup paired two of college football's most storied programs, each led by iconic coaches. Penn State, coached by the legendary Joe Paterno, entered with an 11–1 record, having won the Big Ten Conference championship. Their only loss came against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The USC Trojans, under Pete Carroll, also finished 11–1, with their sole defeat coming in a stunning upset to the Oregon State Beavers. This was the first meeting between the two schools since the 1996 Kickoff Classic and their seventh overall, with Penn State holding a 4–2 series lead. The selection marked a return to the traditional Pac-10 versus Big Ten pairing after the previous year's game featured the Illinois Fighting Illini and USC.

Game Summary

Penn State struck first with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Daryll Clark to Andrew Quarless. USC answered quickly, as quarterback Mark Sanchez connected with Damian Williams for a 27-yard score. The Trojans took control in the second quarter, with Mark Sanchez throwing touchdown passes to Stanley Havili and Ronald Johnson. A 30-yard field goal by David Buehler gave USC a 24–7 halftime lead. After the break, Mark Sanchez found C.J. Gable for another touchdown. Penn State mounted a comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, with Daryll Clark throwing two touchdowns to Derrick Williams and Deon Butler, but an interception returned for a touchdown by USC's Kaluka Maiava sealed the victory for the Carroll-led squad.

Game Statistics

USC dominated statistically, outgaining Penn State 474 yards to 410. Mark Sanchez was named the Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player, completing 28 of 35 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns. For Penn State, Daryll Clark passed for 273 yards and two scores but was intercepted twice. USC's receiving corps was led by Damian Williams, who caught 10 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. The Trojans' defense, featuring future NFL players like Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, and Rey Maualuga, recorded five sacks and forced three turnovers.

Aftermath

The victory gave USC its record 24th Rose Bowl win and cemented their status as the premier program of the 2000s under Pete Carroll. For Penn State and Joe Paterno, it was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season. Mark Sanchez's performance propelled him to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2009 NFL Draft, where he was selected fifth overall by the New York Jets. The game was the final Rose Bowl for Pete Carroll at USC, as he departed for the Seattle Seahawks following the 2009 season. The contest is remembered as a showcase for USC's offensive firepower and defensive prowess during the Pete Carroll era.

Game Notes

The officiating crew was led by referee John McDaid from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The USC Spirit of Troy and the Penn State Blue Band performed during the halftime show. The game was broadcast nationally on ABC with commentary by Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, and sideline reporter Lisa Salters. With an attendance of 93,293, it was the largest crowd for a Rose Bowl since the 2006 Rose Bowl. The victory improved USC's all-time record in the Rose Bowl to 24–9, while Penn State fell to 1–2 in the historic game.

Category:Rose Bowl Category:2008–09 NCAA football bowl games Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football bowl games Category:USC Trojans football bowl games