Rose Bowl Game

Rose Bowl Game
Name	Rose Bowl Game
Caption	Aerial view of Rose Bowl Stadium.
Stadium	Rose Bowl Stadium
Location	Pasadena, California
Previous stadiums	Tournament Park (1902, 1916–1922)
Established	1902 (annual since 1916)
Conference tie-ins	Big Ten Conference vs. Pac-12 Conference (historically)
Payout	$6 million per team (2023)
Sponsor	Capital One (2025–)
Former names	Tournament East–West Football Game (1916–1922)

Rose Bowl Game. It is an annual American college football bowl game, traditionally played on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. Known as "The Granddaddy of Them All," it is the oldest operating bowl game and has been a premier postseason contest since 1916, historically pitting the champion of the Big Ten Conference against the champion of the Pac-12 Conference. The game is a central part of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and is currently a part of the College Football Playoff rotation.

History

The first game was played in 1902, matching Stanford against the University of Michigan, but was discontinued until being revived in 1916 as the Tournament East–West Football Game. The contest was permanently established as an annual New Year's tradition, with the name "Rose Bowl" adopted in 1923 upon the opening of the new Rose Bowl Stadium. For decades, it served as the culmination of the college football season, famously hosting the de facto national championship game between USC and the University of Texas in 2006. The game's affiliation with the Big Ten and Pac-12 (originally the Pacific Coast Conference) became a defining characteristic, though its role expanded with the creation of the Bowl Championship Series and later the College Football Playoff.

Venue

Since 1923, the primary venue has been the Rose Bowl Stadium, a National Historic Landmark located in the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena, California. The stadium's distinctive horseshoe design was inspired by the Yale Bowl and was constructed at a cost of $272,198. Prior to its completion, games from 1916 to 1922 were held at Tournament Park on the campus of the California Institute of Technology. The stadium has undergone numerous renovations, including major expansions for the 1932 Olympics and the 1984 Olympics, and it also serves as the home stadium for the UCLA Bruins football team.

Game results

Through the 2024 edition, the Big Ten Conference holds a narrow lead in the overall series against the Pac-12 Conference. The most frequent participants include the USC Trojans, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Michigan Wolverines. The highest-scoring game occurred in 2018 when the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 54–48 in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Notable streaks include the Pac-12's eight consecutive wins from 2009 to 2016, a period dominated by Oregon and Stanford.

Traditions

The game is preceded by the Rose Parade, a five-and-a-half-mile procession of floral floats, equestrian units, and marching bands along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. The University of Michigan Marching Band performed at the first game in 1902, establishing a tradition of elaborate pregame and halftime shows by participating university bands. The presentation of the Leishman Trophy to the game's Most Valuable Player is a longstanding postgame ritual. Other iconic elements include the playing of "America the Beautiful" and the awarding of roses to the winning team.

Notable games

The 1929 game saw Roy Riegels' infamous wrong-way run for California against Georgia Tech. The 1963 contest featured a thrilling 42–37 victory for USC over Wisconsin. The 2006 BCS National Championship Game, where Vince Young led the Texas Longhorns past Reggie Bush and USC 41–38, is often considered one of the greatest college football games ever played. The 2018 College Football Playoff semifinal between Georgia and Oklahoma was a dramatic double-overtime classic.

Broadcasters

The game has been televised nationally since 1952, with NBC holding broadcast rights for many decades. ABC became the primary broadcaster from 1989 to 2010, with notable announcers like Keith Jackson and Brent Musburger. Since 2011, television rights have been held by ESPN as part of its College Football Playoff package. The radio broadcast is historically associated with the Mutual Broadcasting System and later Westwood One, with legendary announcer Vin Scully calling the game for several years.

Category:College football bowl games Category:Sports competitions in California Category:Recurring events established in 1902