1977 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1977 Rose Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played on January 1, 1977. It was the 63rd Rose Bowl Game
. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines
, champions of the Big Ten Conference
, 14–6. USC quarterback
Vince Evans
was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game. USC freshman tailback Charles White
, subbing for Heisman Trophy
runner-up Ricky Bell
, who was injured in the first quarter, wound up with 122 yards and a touchdown.
on November 6 by a score of 16–14. They capped off their Big Ten championship with a 22–0 shutout of arch rival Ohio State
and came into the Rose Bowl ranked #3.
, 46–25, the Trojans' fifth straight regular season loss dating back to the prior season. They then won the rest of their games, climaxed by a 24–14 win over #2 UCLA
to clinch the conference championship.
, led by Heisman Trophy
winner Tony Dorsett
, was the consensus #1 team in the country going into the bowls. USC and Michigan hoped that Georgia would upset Pitt in the Sugar Bowl
, thereby setting up the Rose Bowl as a national championship showdown. However, Pittsburgh clinched the national title before the Rose Bowl began with a dominant 27–3 win over #4 Georgia. USC finished as the #2 ranked team in both major polls, and Michigan finished ranked #3.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
played on January 1, 1977. It was the 63rd Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines
1976 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1976 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1976 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
, champions of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, 14–6. USC quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Vince Evans
Vince Evans
Vincent Tobias Evans is a former professional American football quarterback who was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft...
was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game. USC freshman tailback Charles White
Charles White (American football)
Charles White is a former professional American football running back. He had a distinguished college career and later played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.-College football:...
, subbing for Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
runner-up Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (running back)
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell, was an American professional football player who played running back in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers from 1977 to 1982...
, who was injured in the first quarter, wound up with 122 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan won their first eight games and spent most of the season ranked #1, until an upset loss to Purdue1976 Purdue Boilermakers football team
The 1976 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 1976 college football season.-Schedule:-Coaching staff:Head Coach: Alex Agase...
on November 6 by a score of 16–14. They capped off their Big Ten championship with a 22–0 shutout of arch rival Ohio State
1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1976-1977. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–2–1 record, including the 1977 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, where they won 27–10 against the Colorado Buffaloes.-Schedule:-1977...
and came into the Rose Bowl ranked #3.
USC Trojans
USC was upset in the season opener by MissouriMissouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
, 46–25, the Trojans' fifth straight regular season loss dating back to the prior season. They then won the rest of their games, climaxed by a 24–14 win over #2 UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
to clinch the conference championship.
Second quarter
- Michigan - Rob LytleRob LytleRob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
, 1-yard run (Bob Wood kick blocked) - USC - Vince EvansVince EvansVincent Tobias Evans is a former professional American football quarterback who was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft...
, 1-yard run (Walker kick)
Fourth quarter
- USC - Charles WhiteCharles White (American football)Charles White is a former professional American football running back. He had a distinguished college career and later played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.-College football:...
, 7-yard run (Walker kick)
Aftermath
Undefeated Pittsburgh1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1976 college football season and is recognized as that season's consensus National Champions...
, led by Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
, was the consensus #1 team in the country going into the bowls. USC and Michigan hoped that Georgia would upset Pitt in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, thereby setting up the Rose Bowl as a national championship showdown. However, Pittsburgh clinched the national title before the Rose Bowl began with a dominant 27–3 win over #4 Georgia. USC finished as the #2 ranked team in both major polls, and Michigan finished ranked #3.