1995 Cotton Bowl Classic
Encyclopedia
The 1995 Cotton Bowl was the 59th Cotton Bowl Classic. The USC Trojans defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 55-14. The Trojans took a 21-0 lead less than ten minutes into the game and led 34-0 at halftime. USC wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson
, who finished with eight catches for a Cotton Bowl-record 222 yards and three touchdowns, was named offensive MVP. Trojan cornerback John Herpin had two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and was named defensive MVP.
This was only the third time in Cotton Bowl history that a team from the Pac-10 Conference
made an appearance, following Oregon
in 1949 and UCLA in 1989. Both those teams would play once more in the Cotton Bowl, Oregon in 1996 and UCLA in 1998. The game was the last performance by a football team from the Southwest Conference, which would disband later that year.
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
, who finished with eight catches for a Cotton Bowl-record 222 yards and three touchdowns, was named offensive MVP. Trojan cornerback John Herpin had two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and was named defensive MVP.
This was only the third time in Cotton Bowl history that a team from the Pac-10 Conference
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
made an appearance, following Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1949 and UCLA in 1989. Both those teams would play once more in the Cotton Bowl, Oregon in 1996 and UCLA in 1998. The game was the last performance by a football team from the Southwest Conference, which would disband later that year.