The Rose Bowl Game is one-of-a-kind and holds a cherished place within the fabric of American college football. Its history dates back to 1902, making it the country’s oldest bowl game and its prestige remains unparalleled.
The Rose Bowl is more than just a football game, it’s a cultural event connected with the historic Tournament of Roses parade and its breathtaking floral displays. The first ever Rose Bowl game took place on January 1, 1902, between Michigan and Stanford which was attended by 7000 fans. The game ended in a decisive victory for Michigan, with a final score of 49-0.
2023 Rose Bowl Game
The 2023 Rose Bowl Game, officially titled the 109th Rose Bowl Game was played on January 2, 2023, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game featured Penn State Nittany Lions from the Big Ten Conference and Utah Utes from the Pac-12 Conference.
The stadium was packed with 95k football fanatics and was broadcast on ESPN. Penn State won the game by 35-21 and Sean Clifford (Quarterback) & Ji’Ayir Brown (Safety) were named the MVPs.
Rose Bowl Winners By Year
The Rose Bowl has witnessed many ups and downs, thrilling comebacks, and close games. Here are the Rose Bowl winners of the past 20 years (2004-2023):
| Year | Winner | Score | Opponent | Score |
| 2023 | Penn State | 35 | Utah | 21 |
| 2022 | Ohio State | 48 | Utah | 45 |
| 2021 | Alabama | 31 | Notre Dame | 14 |
| 2020 | Oregon | 28 | Wisconsin | 27 |
| 2019 | Ohio State | 26 | Washington | 23 |
| 2018 | Georgia | 54 | Oklahoma | 48 (OT) |
| 2017 | USC | 52 | Penn State | 49 |
| 2016 | Stanford | 45 | Iowa | 16 |
| 2015 | Oregon | 59 | Florida State | 20 |
| 2014 | Michigan State | 24 | Stanford | 20 |
| 2013 | Stanford | 20 | Wisconsin | 14 |
| 2012 | Oregon | 45 | Wisconsin | 38 |
| 2011 | TCU | 21 | Wisconsin | 19 |
| 2010 | Ohio State | 26 | Oregon | 17 |
| 2009 | USC | 38 | Penn State | 24 |
| 2008 | USC | 49 | Illinois | 17 |
| 2007 | USC | 32 | Michigan | 18 |
| 2006 | Texas | 41 | USC | 38 |
| 2005 | Texas | 38 | Michigan | 37 |
| 2004 | USC | 28 | Michigan | 14 |
Notable Rose Bowl Movements
2006 Rose Bowl: Vince This game is often referred to as one of the greatest comebacks in college football history due to Young’s legendary fourth-quarter comeback against USC. Trailing by 12 points with under 6 minutes remaining, Young led the Longhorns to their first national championship since 1970.
1929 Rose Bowl: One of the oddest moments in football history was when Roy Riegels ran 65 yards in the wrong direction. This resulted in Georgia Tech’s 8-7 victory against California.
2017 Rose Bowl: Sam Darnold orchestrated a comeback for USC against Penn State. Down 17 points in the third quarter, Darnold threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns for a 52-49 victory.
1984 Rose Bowl: Rick Neuheisel was the legendary quarterback for the Bruins and one of his best games was the 1984 Rose Bowl, when he threw four touchdowns, beating both food poisoning and Illinois.
2015 Rose Bowl: Oregon’s Marcus Mariota set Rose Bowl records with 59 points, 639 total yards, and 41 second-half points at Florida State’s expense.
Rose Bowl Records And Statistics
The Rose Bowl has a long history of unforgettable moments and incredible records. Let’s delve into some of the most remarkable feats achieved on this legendary field:
Individual Excellence
- Most Passing Yards: C.J. Stroud (Ohio State, 2023) – 573 yards
- Most Passing Touchdowns: C.J. Stroud (Ohio State, 2023), Tommy Rees (Notre Dame, 2013) – 6
- Most Rushing Yards: Reggie Bush (USC, 2006) – 277 yards
- Most Receiving Yards: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State, 2023) – 347 yards
Team Dominance
- Most Points Scored: Oregon (2015) – 59 points
- Largest Margin of Victory: Michigan over Stanford (1902), Michigan over USC (1948) – 49 points
- Most consecutive wins by a team: 2, six teams, most recently Wisconsin in 1999-2000.
- Most consecutive losses by a team: 3, Michigan (1977-79).
- Most appearances by a single team: Pac-10 — USC, 19; Big Ten — Michigan, 16.
- Most wins by a single team: Pac-10 — USC, 12; Big Ten — Michigan, 7.
Rose Bowl Legacy And Impact
The Rose Bowl legacy spans over a century and is one of the oldest and most prestigious college football bowl games, also nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Bowl Games”. It is a cultural phenomenon that holds a special place in college football history and is renowned for its traditions, pageantry, and parades.
The Rose Bowl has helped in elevating college football but it goes way beyond football. It has had a significant social and economic impact which has helped in shaping the college football landscape and inspiring the future generations.
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