1997 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Rose Bowl Game
was a postseason college football
bowl game
between the Arizona State Sun Devils
of the Pacific-10 Conference and the Ohio State Buckeyes
of the Big Ten Conference
, held on New Year’s Day
in the Rose Bowl
in Pasadena, California
. The game resulted in a dramatic 20–17 victory for the Buckeyes when Joe Germaine
led a last-minute touchdown
drive. Joe Germaine was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
and Joe Germaine
split time in each game at QB. The Buckeye offensive attack was led by Outland Trophy
- and Lombardi Award
-winning tackle Orlando Pace
(who would go on to be the #1 pick in the ensuing
NFL Draft
) and true freshman wide receiver David Boston
, a budding star. The Buckeyes’ only loss was in the regular-season finale against archrival Michigan
, which spoiled their undefeated season and national title hopes; however, OSU had clinched a berth in the Rose Bowl one week before The Game with a win over Indiana
. The defense was led by the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, lockdown cornerback Shawn Springs
, and true freshman middle linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer
.
# 2 in the nation, and had hopes of capturing the school’s first national championship in football. Leading the way for ASU were senior quarterback Jake Plummer
, tailback
Terry Battle, and a stingy defense led by end Derrick Rodgers
and linebacker Pat Tillman
. Perhaps ASU’s most impressive regular-season victory came against Nebraska
, when ASU’s defense held the ’Huskers scoreless; Arizona State won by a score of 19–0.
Stanley Jackson
threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to true freshman wideout
David Boston
, capping a drive that saw Jackson scramble
for some twenty yards on a third down. Josh Jackson’s PAT was good, making it 7–0 in favor of the Buckeyes. No other scoring ensued in the period, and the Buckeyes led after one, 7–0.
to Ricky Boyer, tying the game after Robert Nycz’s extra point. Replays
seemed to show that Boyer had trapped the ball against the end zone
turf, but the touchdown stood. Neither team could manage any more points before halftime, and the game went to the break, still tied at 7–7.
by Nycz to take a 10-7 lead on the opening drive of the second half.
The Buckeyes countered only two plays later, when Joe Germaine
hit Dimitrious Stanley on a post pattern. ASU corner Jason Simmons
slipped and fell on the turf, and Stanley was off to the races. 72 yards and an extra point later, the Buckeyes were back on top with a 14–10 lead.
No more scoring ensued in the third, and the teams went to the fourth quarter with the game very much up for grabs.
broke a long run, leading the Buckeyes from inside their own five yard line deep into ASU territory. However, the drive stalled only three plays later, and OSU had to settle for a Josh Jackson field goal attempt.
That was not to be, as ASU’s Brent Burnstein blocked the kick. ASU Defensive end
Derrick Rodgers
took what appeared to be a lateral and ran the ball into the end zone, but the play was called back: Rodgers had taken an illegal forward lateral. The Sun Devils, however, had the ball with less than five minutes to play.
Jake Plummer, who had built a reputation over his college career for leading late comeback drives, did just that. The key play was a fourth down conversion when Plummer hit wideout Lenzie Jackson
for a big gain. With just over a minute remaining, Plummer scrambled
for eleven yards and a touchdown on third-and-goal, and ASU took the lead, 17–14.
However, Germaine was not done. He led the Buckeyes on a remarkable last-minute drive. Dimitrious Stanley caught two third-down passes from Germaine, and then, with the help of two pass interference penalties against ASU, the Bucks had the ball on the Devils’ five yard line. Germaine then flipped a pass to the aforementioned Boston, who was left undefended on a zig-out route — ASU redshirt freshman corner Courtney Jackson had blown the coverage. Boston walked into the end zone untouched, and the Buckeyes, with 19 seconds left, retook the lead, 20–17. On the next play, Burnstein blocked Josh Jackson’s extra point, leaving the Sun Devils within a field goal.
Ultimately, Lenzie Jackson would be tackled in bounds by OSU’s Antoine Winfield after catching a pass from Plummer on the second play of the ensuing drive, and time ran out. The Buckeyes had won the Rose Bowl — their first victory in the Rose Bowl since Archie Griffin
’s sophomore season.
would end up winning the national championship after defeating the then-top-ranked Florida State Seminoles 52–20 in the Sugar Bowl
. FSU had defeated the Gators earlier in the season by a score of 24–21. Had the Sun Devils won the game, they would likely have been the AP National Champions. Buckeye quarterback Joe Germaine, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, would go on to be named the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player
during his senior season of 1998. Many of the players on both teams’ rosters would go on to pro careers: notably, Jake Plummer
, Pat Tillman
, Derek Smith
, Jason Simmons
, Scott Von Der Ahe, Steve Bush
, and Derrick Rodgers
of Arizona State, and Mike Vrabel
, Shawn Springs
, Orlando Pace
, Antoine Winfield
, Rob Kelly
and Damon Moore
of Ohio State.
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...
was a postseason college football
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...
between the Arizona State Sun Devils
1996 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 1996 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented the Arizona State University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A college football season.-Regular season:...
of the Pacific-10 Conference and the Ohio State Buckeyes
1996 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1996 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1996-1997. The team's head football coach was John Cooper. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 11 and 1, and...
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...
, held on New Year’s Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
in the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The game resulted in a dramatic 20–17 victory for the Buckeyes when Joe Germaine
Joe Germaine
-St. Louis Rams:Germaine was selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He won a Super Bowl ring as a backup to Kurt Warner as a rookie. Germaine appeared in only three games, completing nine passes, and was cut at the end of the 2000 season.-Kansas City...
led a last-minute touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
drive. Joe Germaine was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
Ohio State
The Buckeyes had rolled through the regular season using a two-quarterback system; Stanley JacksonStanley Jackson (American football)
Stanley Jackson is a retired American football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League and Continental Indoor Football League. He was also the Co-Owner of the CIFL's Marion Mayhem-College career:...
and Joe Germaine
Joe Germaine
-St. Louis Rams:Germaine was selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He won a Super Bowl ring as a backup to Kurt Warner as a rookie. Germaine appeared in only three games, completing nine passes, and was cut at the end of the 2000 season.-Kansas City...
split time in each game at QB. The Buckeye offensive attack was led by Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
- and Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
-winning tackle Orlando Pace
Orlando Pace
Orlando Lamar Pace is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State. Pace has started all 16 games eight times and blocked for three straight NFL MVPs...
(who would go on to be the #1 pick in the ensuing
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
) and true freshman wide receiver David Boston
David Boston
David Byron Boston is a professional football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
, a budding star. The Buckeyes’ only loss was in the regular-season finale against archrival Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
, which spoiled their undefeated season and national title hopes; however, OSU had clinched a berth in the Rose Bowl one week before The Game with a win over Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
. The defense was led by the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, lockdown cornerback Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks third overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State....
, and true freshman middle linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer
Andy Katzenmoyer
Andrew Warren Katzenmoyer is a former professional American football player and the first Butkus Award-winning middle linebacker to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes...
.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils, meanwhile, were undefeated, rankedJake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
, tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
Terry Battle, and a stingy defense led by end Derrick Rodgers
Derrick Rodgers
Derrick Rodgers is a former linebacker that played for the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Rodgers played 6 seasons for the Dolphins and 2 for the Saints. He played college football for Arizona State University....
and linebacker Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman
Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
. Perhaps ASU’s most impressive regular-season victory came against Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
, when ASU’s defense held the ’Huskers scoreless; Arizona State won by a score of 19–0.
First quarter
The Buckeyes scored first midway through the opening period when quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Stanley Jackson
Stanley Jackson (American football)
Stanley Jackson is a retired American football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League and Continental Indoor Football League. He was also the Co-Owner of the CIFL's Marion Mayhem-College career:...
threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to true freshman wideout
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
David Boston
David Boston
David Byron Boston is a professional football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
, capping a drive that saw Jackson scramble
Quarterback scramble
A quarterback scramble or scramble is an impromptu maneuver or run in American football and Canadian football by a quarterback. If a quarterback is under pressure by an opposing team's defense, he may run forward, backward, or laterally in an attempt to avoid being tackled behind the line of...
for some twenty yards on a third down. Josh Jackson’s PAT was good, making it 7–0 in favor of the Buckeyes. No other scoring ensued in the period, and the Buckeyes led after one, 7–0.
Second quarter
Shortly before halftime, the Sun Devils finally answered via a 25 yard pass play from Jake PlummerJake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
to Ricky Boyer, tying the game after Robert Nycz’s extra point. Replays
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
seemed to show that Boyer had trapped the ball against the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
turf, but the touchdown stood. Neither team could manage any more points before halftime, and the game went to the break, still tied at 7–7.
Third quarter
After halftime, the Sun Devils would add a 37 yard field goalField goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
by Nycz to take a 10-7 lead on the opening drive of the second half.
The Buckeyes countered only two plays later, when Joe Germaine
Joe Germaine
-St. Louis Rams:Germaine was selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He won a Super Bowl ring as a backup to Kurt Warner as a rookie. Germaine appeared in only three games, completing nine passes, and was cut at the end of the 2000 season.-Kansas City...
hit Dimitrious Stanley on a post pattern. ASU corner Jason Simmons
Jason Simmons
Jason Lawrence Simmons is an American football strong safety who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
slipped and fell on the turf, and Stanley was off to the races. 72 yards and an extra point later, the Buckeyes were back on top with a 14–10 lead.
No more scoring ensued in the third, and the teams went to the fourth quarter with the game very much up for grabs.
Fourth quarter
Late in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes looked to put the game away. Pepe PearsonPepe Pearson
Pepe Pearson is a former American football tailback, starting in college for the Ohio State Buckeyes.-Playing career:...
broke a long run, leading the Buckeyes from inside their own five yard line deep into ASU territory. However, the drive stalled only three plays later, and OSU had to settle for a Josh Jackson field goal attempt.
That was not to be, as ASU’s Brent Burnstein blocked the kick. ASU Defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Derrick Rodgers
Derrick Rodgers
Derrick Rodgers is a former linebacker that played for the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Rodgers played 6 seasons for the Dolphins and 2 for the Saints. He played college football for Arizona State University....
took what appeared to be a lateral and ran the ball into the end zone, but the play was called back: Rodgers had taken an illegal forward lateral. The Sun Devils, however, had the ball with less than five minutes to play.
Jake Plummer, who had built a reputation over his college career for leading late comeback drives, did just that. The key play was a fourth down conversion when Plummer hit wideout Lenzie Jackson
Lenzie Jackson
Lenzie Maurice Jackson is a retired National Football League kick returner and Arena Football League wide receiver/defensive back.-High school years:...
for a big gain. With just over a minute remaining, Plummer scrambled
Quarterback scramble
A quarterback scramble or scramble is an impromptu maneuver or run in American football and Canadian football by a quarterback. If a quarterback is under pressure by an opposing team's defense, he may run forward, backward, or laterally in an attempt to avoid being tackled behind the line of...
for eleven yards and a touchdown on third-and-goal, and ASU took the lead, 17–14.
However, Germaine was not done. He led the Buckeyes on a remarkable last-minute drive. Dimitrious Stanley caught two third-down passes from Germaine, and then, with the help of two pass interference penalties against ASU, the Bucks had the ball on the Devils’ five yard line. Germaine then flipped a pass to the aforementioned Boston, who was left undefended on a zig-out route — ASU redshirt freshman corner Courtney Jackson had blown the coverage. Boston walked into the end zone untouched, and the Buckeyes, with 19 seconds left, retook the lead, 20–17. On the next play, Burnstein blocked Josh Jackson’s extra point, leaving the Sun Devils within a field goal.
Ultimately, Lenzie Jackson would be tackled in bounds by OSU’s Antoine Winfield after catching a pass from Plummer on the second play of the ensuing drive, and time ran out. The Buckeyes had won the Rose Bowl — their first victory in the Rose Bowl since Archie Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
’s sophomore season.
Scoring summary
| Scoring play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||
| OSU - David Boston 9 yard pass from Stanley Jackson (Josh Jackson kick) | OSU 7, ASU 0 | ||
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| ASU - Ricky Boyer 25 yard pass from Jake Plummer (Robert Nycz kick) | ASU 7, OSU 7 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| ASU - Nycz 37 yard field goal | ASU 10, OSU 7 | ||
| OSU - Dimitrious Stanley 72 yard pass from Joe Germaine (J. Jackson kick) | OSU 14, ASU 10 | ||
| 4th Quarter | |||
| ASU - Plummer 11 yard run (Nycz kick) | ASU 17, OSU 14 | ||
| OSU - Boston 5 yard pass from Germaine (kick blocked) | OSU 20, ASU 17 | ||
Aftermath
The Buckeyes would finish #2 in the nation after winning their first Rose Bowl since January 1, 1974, handing the Sun Devils their only loss and preventing them from winning at least a share of the national title (Arizona State finished ranked #4). The previously-third-ranked Florida Gators1996 Florida Gators football team
The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier...
would end up winning the national championship after defeating the then-top-ranked Florida State Seminoles 52–20 in the Sugar Bowl
1997 Sugar Bowl
The 1997 Sugar Bowl was the 63rd edition to the annual game. It featured the top ranked , and their heated rivals, the third ranked Florida Gators. It was the designated National Championship Game for the 1996-97 season by the Bowl Alliance. The match up was supposed to feature the top two teams...
. FSU had defeated the Gators earlier in the season by a score of 24–21. Had the Sun Devils won the game, they would likely have been the AP National Champions. Buckeye quarterback Joe Germaine, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, would go on to be named the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player
Chicago Tribune Silver Football
The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient.The winner of the Silver...
during his senior season of 1998. Many of the players on both teams’ rosters would go on to pro careers: notably, Jake Plummer
Jake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
, Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman
Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
, Derek Smith
Derek Smith (linebacker)
Derek Mecham Smith is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft...
, Jason Simmons
Jason Simmons
Jason Lawrence Simmons is an American football strong safety who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
, Scott Von Der Ahe, Steve Bush
Steve Bush
Steve Bush is a former tight end and fullback in the NFL. He went to Arizona State University....
, and Derrick Rodgers
Derrick Rodgers
Derrick Rodgers is a former linebacker that played for the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Rodgers played 6 seasons for the Dolphins and 2 for the Saints. He played college football for Arizona State University....
of Arizona State, and Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
, Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks third overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State....
, Orlando Pace
Orlando Pace
Orlando Lamar Pace is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State. Pace has started all 16 games eight times and blocked for three straight NFL MVPs...
, Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield is an American football cornerback in the NFL. He played college football at The Ohio State University, winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in 1998. Winfield was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Since 2004, he...
, Rob Kelly
Rob Kelly (American football)
Robert James Kelly III is a former professional American football player who played safety for four seasons for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League....
and Damon Moore
Damon Moore
Damon Moore is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State....
of Ohio State.
Game Notes
- Ohio State head coach John CooperJohn Cooper (coach)John Cooper is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tulsa , Arizona State University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career record of 192–84–6...
became the first coach to lead a Big Ten and a Pac Ten team to Rose Bowl victories. Previously, Cooper had led the Sun Devils to their only Rose BowlRose Bowl GameThe 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...
victory, defeating MichiganMichigan Wolverines footballThe Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
in the 1987 Rose Bowl1987 Rose BowlThe 1987 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 73rd Rose Bowl Game. The Arizona State Sun Devils, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 22-15....
by a score of 22–15.