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| 2006 Rose Bowl | |
|---|---|
| Game name | Rose Bowl |
| Date game | January 4, 2006 |
| Season | 2005 |
| Stadium | Rose Bowl |
| City | Pasadena, California |
| Attendance | 93,986 |
| Visitor school | University of Texas |
| Visitor name short | Texas |
| Visitor nickname | Longhorns |
| Visitor record | 11–0 |
| Visitor conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Visitor coach | Mack Brown |
| Home school | USC |
| Home name short | USC |
| Home nickname | Trojans |
| Home record | 12–0 |
| Home conference | Pac-10 |
| Home coach | Pete Carroll |
| Odds | USC by 4 |
| MVP | Vince Young |
2006 Rose Bowl
The 2006 Rose Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game contested on January 4, 2006, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Texas Longhorns of the Big 12 Conference and the USC Trojans of the Pac-10, each entering unbeaten and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A polls. It served as the BCS National Championship Game in that season's Bowl Championship Series structure and drew national attention for star players, high-profile coaches, and implications for the Heisman Trophy.
The game was played under the Bowl Championship Series system, which matched No. 1 and No. 2 for a national title. Participants included programs with long traditions: University of Texas, a program dating to the Southwest Conference era, and USC, a program linked to the Pacific Coast Conference lineage. Coaches Mack Brown and Pete Carroll had led conference championships and had produced consensus All-Americans. The matchup revived historical narratives between Big 12 Conference powerhouses and Pac-10 Conference dynasties and punctuated a season that included marquee games such as Texas–Oklahoma and USC–Notre Dame.
Texas entered with quarterback Vince Young leading an offense coached by Major Applewhite was a former player and Mack Brown was head coach; Texas featured talents like B. J. Johnson and Selvin Young. USC featured quarterback Matt Leinart, a Heisman Trophy winner, wide receiver Steve Smith, running back Reggie Bush, and a roster coached by Pete Carroll with defensive coordinator Nick Holt. Both teams had multiple All-American selections and future National Football League players.
Media coverage highlighted the contrast between dual-threat quarterback Vince Young and pocket passer Matt Leinart, along with the presence of Reggie Bush, whose 2005 season had earned Heisman Trophy attention. Analysts from outlets covering the Associated Press and ESPN framed the game as a test of Big 12 Conference speed versus Pac-10 Conference depth. Pre-game storylines included coaching matchups between Mack Brown and Pete Carroll, NFL draft implications for players like Lendale White and Justin Blalock, and historical context referencing past Rose Bowl classics such as 1969 Rose Bowl and 2000 Rose Bowl.
The contest was a back-and-forth battle in which both offenses produced explosive plays. USC took an early lead behind Matt Leinart passes and a rushing attack featuring Reggie Bush and LenDale White, while Texas responded with dynamic plays by Vince Young and receivers including Limas Sweed. As the fourth quarter progressed, Young orchestrated a late-game drive culminating in a game-winning touchdown run. The final minutes featured clock management, special teams plays, and defensive stands from both the Texas Longhorns football and USC Trojans.
Critical sequences included a fourth-quarter offensive series led by Vince Young that ended with a touchdown run on a scramble into the end zone, a goal-line stand by the USC defense featuring tackles by linemen such as Ryan Kalil, and a controversial officiating moment overseen by referee Terry Tollefson. A pivotal turnover or incomplete pass on a two-minute drill shifted momentum, and special teams contributions from returners altered field position late in the game. The interplay between Matt Leinart’s passing accuracy and Vince Young’s mobility defined the finishing sequence.
Statistical leaders included Vince Young with a high rushing total for a quarterback and a significant passing yardage total, and Matt Leinart with noteworthy passing statistics. The game set viewership records on ABC and contributed to Bowl Championship Series ratings benchmarks. Individual records included career and single-season milestones for Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart within USC Trojans football history, and Vince Young’s performance entered the College Football Hall of Fame conversation. Team records for combined yardage and fourth-quarter scoring were noted in postseason summaries.
The game had lasting impacts on the NFL Draft stock of participants; Vince Young and Matt Leinart became high NFL Draft prospects. Coaching trajectories were affected: Mack Brown’s legacy at University of Texas at Austin was elevated, while Pete Carroll’s tenure at USC remained prominent before later moves to the NFL. Debates about the Bowl Championship Series format intensified, contributing to dialogues that eventually led toward the College Football Playoff. The contest is frequently listed among greatest bowl games in retrospectives by organizations such as The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated and remains a touchstone in histories of the Rose Bowl Game.