2008 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi, the 94th Rose Bowl Game
, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium
in Pasadena, California
, was a college football
bowl game
. The contest was televised on ABC
, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST. The game's main sponsor was Citi.
The 2008 Rose Bowl featured the 7th-ranked USC Trojans
hosting the 13th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini
. As with the previous year's game
, the contest was a semi-traditional Rose Bowl in that while it was a Big Ten
versus Pac-10 matchup, the Big Ten representative was an at-large team because the conference champion, Ohio State
, which lost to Illinois earlier in the season, was selected to play in the BCS National Championship Game
.
USC was making its third straight appearance in the Rose Bowl, while Illinois had not played in the game since 1984
. Though Illinois won the Big Ten Conference title in 2001
, the then-rotating BCS title game moved them to the Sugar Bowl
.
recovered for a touchback. USC converted that miscue into a touchdown and then cornerback Cary Harris
intercepted Illinois quarterback Juice Williams
's pass on the first play of the ensuing possession. Five plays later, Trojans freshman Joe McKnight
scored on a 6-yard run, making the score 35-10. USC gained a Rose Bowl-record 633 yards of offense in defeating Illinois 49-17.
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...
, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium
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...
, was a 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...
. The contest was televised on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST. The game's main sponsor was Citi.
The 2008 Rose Bowl featured the 7th-ranked USC Trojans
2007 USC Trojans football team
The 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl...
hosting the 13th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini
2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2007–2008 college football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook. The Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois...
. As with the previous year's game
2007 Rose Bowl
The 2007 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 2007 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 93rd Rose Bowl Game and part of the 2006-2007 Bowl Championship Series at the conclusion of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
, the contest was a semi-traditional Rose Bowl in that while it was a Big Ten
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...
versus Pac-10 matchup, the Big Ten representative was an at-large team because the conference champion, Ohio State
2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
, which lost to Illinois earlier in the season, was selected to play in the BCS National Championship Game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
.
USC was making its third straight appearance in the Rose Bowl, while Illinois had not played in the game since 1984
1984 Rose Bowl
The 1984 Rose Bowl game, played on January 2, was the 70th Rose Bowl game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini by a score of 45-9. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA quarterback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns...
. Though Illinois won the Big Ten Conference title in 2001
2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season season. Led by senior quarterback Kurt Kittner, the team won the Big Ten Conference title and earned a Sugar Bowl berth, but lost to LSU, 47–34.-Schedule:...
, the then-rotating BCS title game moved them to the Sugar Bowl
2002 Sugar Bowl
The 2002 Sugar Bowl a 2001–2002 BCS game was played on January 1, 2002. This 68th edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the Illinois Fighting Illini, and the LSU Tigers...
.
Game summary
USC took an early 21-0 lead, including a touchdown pass by backup quarterback Garrett Green on a trick play. Illinois verged on closing to 21-10 midway through the third quarter, but receiver Jacob Willis fumbled into the end zone after a catch and Trojans linebacker Brian CushingBrian Cushing
-Houston Texans:Cushing was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.He scored his first career points on October 4, 2009 when he recorded a safety against the Oakland Raiders. The safety was the first recorded by a Texan since the 2002 season.Cushing was...
recovered for a touchback. USC converted that miscue into a touchdown and then cornerback Cary Harris
Cary Harris
Cary Harris is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
intercepted Illinois quarterback Juice Williams
Isiah Williams
Isiah John "Juice" Williams is an American football quarterback who is currently signed to the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League. He was undrafted in 2010...
's pass on the first play of the ensuing possession. Five plays later, Trojans freshman Joe McKnight
Joe McKnight
Joe McKnight is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Jets...
scored on a 6-yard run, making the score 35-10. USC gained a Rose Bowl-record 633 yards of offense in defeating Illinois 49-17.
Scoring summary
| Plays | Yards | Scoring Play | Time | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | |||||
| 9 | 72 | USC - Chauncey Washington Chauncey Washington -Jacksonville Jaguars:Washington was selected in the 7th round pick 213 of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. On June 26, 2008 Washington signed a contract of four years worth $1.6 million.-Dallas Cowboys:... , 8-yard pass from John David Booty John David Booty John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans... (David Buehler David Buehler -Dallas Cowboys:He was drafted in the 5th round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2009 NFL Draft, and the first kicker taken. He was the first USC kicker to be drafted since Cole Ford in 1995. He handles the team's kickoffs and missed his only field goal attempt in the Cowboys' opening regular season... kick) |
2:12 | ILL 0 - USC 7 | |
| 1 | 34 | USC - Desmond Reed, 34-yard pass from Garrett Green (David Buehler kick) | 0:09 | ILL 0 - USC 14 | |
| 2nd quarter | |||||
| 6 | 43 | USC - Chauncey Washington, 3-yard run (David Buehler kick) | 2:10 | ILL 0 - USC 21 | |
| 12 | 69 | ILL - Jason Reda Jason Reda Jason Gerard Reda is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Illinois.... , 28-yard field goal |
1:43 | ILL 3 - USC 21 | |
| 3rd quarter | |||||
| 2 | 88 | ILL - Rashard Mendenhall Rashard Mendenhall Rashard Jamal Mendenhall is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers 23rd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois.... , 79-yard run (Jason Reda kick) |
0:47 | ILL 10 - USC 21 | |
| 8 | 80 | USC - Fred Davis Fred Davis (tight end) Fred Davis is an American football tight end currently playing for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.-Early years:Davis prepped at Rogers High School... , 2-yard pass from John David Booty (David Buehler kick) |
2:06 | ILL 10 - USC 28 | |
| 5 | 68 | USC - Joe McKnight Joe McKnight Joe McKnight is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Jets... , 6-yard run (David Buehler kick) |
1:21 | ILL 10 - USC 35 | |
| 4th quarter | |||||
| 8 | 67 | USC - David Ausberry, 15-yard pass from John David Booty (David Buehler kick) | 3:06 | ILL 10 - USC 42 | |
| 6 | 87 | USC - Hershel Dennis Hershel Dennis Hershel Dennis Jr. is a running back for the Sioux Falls Storm in the Indoor Football League . Dennis played college football running back as a student athlete at the University of Southern California... , 3-yard run (David Buehler kick) |
1:04 | ILL 10 - USC 49 | |
| 3 | 63 | ILL - Arrelious Benn Arrelious Benn -External links:**... , 56-yard pass from Eddie McGee (Jason Reda kick) |
1:11 | ILL 17 - USC 49 | |
Game records
| Team | Performance vs. Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Most points scored | 49, USC vs. Illinois (tied with 2 others) | 2008 |
| Total yards | 633, USC vs. Illinois | 2008 |