Ohio State Rose Bowl History, Records
12/22/2018 2:13:55 PM | Football
OHIO STATE’S ROSE BOWL HISTORY
• Ohio State is playing in the “Granddaddy of them All” for the 15th time in program history. After making six trips to Pasadena between 1969 and 1976, the Buckeyes made just three appearances in the next 41 years – 1985, 1997 and 2010. This will be the first time that Ohio State is facing Washington, making its first Rose Bowl appearance since 2001, in the Rose Bowl.
• The 2019 Rose Bowl Game represents Ohio State’s 49th bowl game. The Buckeyes are 23-25 in bowl games, including 4-2 under Urban Meyer.
OHIO STATE ROSE BOWL RECORDS – TEAM
| Total Yards | 455, 1971 vs. Stanford |
| Rushing Yards | 380, 1971 vs. Stanford |
| Passing Yards | 297, 1980 vs. USC |
| Least Yards Allowed | 206, 1955 vs. USC |
| Most Yards Allowed | 519, 1980 vs. USC |
| Least Rush Yds. Allowed | 75, 1997 vs. Arizona State |
| Most Rush Yds. Allowed | 290, 1975 vs. USC |
| Least Pass Yds. Allowed | 29, 1995 vs. USC |
| Most Pass Yds. Allowed | 265, 1971 vs. Stanford |
| Most Points Scored | 42, 1974 vs. USC |
| Largest Margin of Victory | 21, 1974 vs. USC |
| Passing Touchdowns | 2, three times. Most recent 2010 vs. Oregon |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 6, 1974 vs. USC |
| Punts | 8, 1997 vs. Arizona State |
| Punt/Kick Return Yards | 149, 1976 vs. UCLA |
| First Downs | 26, 2010 vs. Oregon |
OHIO STATE ROSE BOWL RECORDS – INDIVIDUAL
| Rushing Yards | 149, Archie Griffin 1974 vs. USC |
| Rushing TDs | 3, Pete Johnson 1974 vs. USC |
| Rushing Attempts | 30, Jim Otis 1969 vs. USC |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.7, Pepe Pearson 1997 vs. Arizona State |
| Passing Yards | 297, Art Schlichter 1980 vs. USC |
| Passing TDs | 2, three players. Rex Kern 1969 vs. USC; Joe Germaine 1997 vs. Arizona State; Terrelle Pryor 2010 vs. Oregon |
| Passing Attempts | 38, Terrelle Pryor 2010 vs. Oregon |
| Pass Completions | 24, Mike Tomczak 1985 vs. USC |
| Completion Pct. | 64.8, Mike Tomczak 1985 vs. USC |
| Receiving Yards | 172, Cris Carter 1985 vs. USC |
| Receptions | 9, Cris Carter 1985 vs. USC |
| TD Receptions | 2, David Boston 1997 vs. Arizona State |
| Field Goals Made | 3, three players: Vlade Janakievski 1980 vs. USC; Rich Spangler 1985 vs. USC; Devin Barclay 2010 vs. Oregon |
| Long Field Goal | 52 yds., Rich Spangler 1985 vs. USC |
| Bowl | Appearances | Most Recent | All-Time Record |
| Rose Bowl | 14 | 2010 | 7-7 |
| Fiesta Bowl | 8 | 2016 | 5-3 |
| Sugar Bowl | 5 | 2015 | 3-2 |
| Citrus Bowl | 4 | 1996 | 1-3 |
| Outback Bowl | 4 | 2002 | 0-4 |
ROSE BOWL HISTORY
1921 Rose Bowl • California 28, Ohio State 0
California finished an undefeated season by spoiling OSU’s first Rose Bowl appearance, and tagging the Buckeyes with their first loss of the year. It was a season in which the Bears rolled up 510 points to 14 for the opposition, and a team that would remain undefeated from 1920 until 1924. Cal quarterback Harold “Brick” Muller was named the player of the game and was credited with a 53-yard touchdown pass. It marked only the second time a Big Ten team had met a Pac 8 squad in the Rose Bowl, with Michigan having played Stanford in the first game in 1902.
1950 Rose Bowl • No. 6 Ohio State 17, No. 3 California 14
The Buckeyes avenged a loss to Cal in their first Rose Bowl by breaking a 14-all tie in the fourth quarter to snatch a victory. With just more than three minutes remaining in the game, Cal quarterback Bob Celeri was back to punt at his own 16. A low snap forced Celeri to kick the ball off his wrong foot, the ball dribbling out of bounds at the Cal 13. Three plays advanced Ohio State to the 6, where Jimmy Hague kicked the winning field goal with under two minutes remaining. It was a dramatic end to a game Ohio State had dominated early, outgaining Cal 143-15 in total yards in the first half and driving inside the Bears’ 20 three times with nothing to show for it. Two Ohio State touchdowns were called back by penalty.
1955 Rose Bowl • No. 1 Ohio State 20, No. 17 Southern California 7
Woody Hayes made his first trip to the Rose Bowl a memorable one, as the Buckeyes dominated the Trojans in the rain and mud. Ohio State and UCLA had tied for national championship honors, but the Bruins were excluded from the bowl because of the “no repeat” rule that was in effect. Led by Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, the Buckeye ground game drove for 304 yards, helping OSU to a 360-206 advantage in total offense. Cassady ran for 92 yards, Dave Leggett for 67 and Bob Watkins for 64. Leggett, the Ohio State quarterback, was named the outstanding player of the game.
1958 Rose Bowl • No. 2 Ohio State 10, Oregon 7
Already proclaimed national champions, the Buckeyes were heavy favorites. But the game wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter. Ohio State drove 79 yards on its first possession to take an early 7-0 lead. Frank Kremblas capped the drive by going in from 1 yard away, then converted the extra point. Oregon came back to tie it at 7-all before the half, and actually had a chance to lead the Buckeyes in the third period with a field goal attempt that failed from the Ohio State 24. The game came down to Don Sutherin’s 24-yard field goal with 14:02 to go in the game. Oregon was stopped by a fumble on its next possession, and drove to the OSU 47 on its last drive before running out of downs.
1969 Rose Bowl • No. 1 Ohio State 27, No. 2 Southern California 16
The Buckeyes put the finishing touches on a 10-0 national championship season by coming from behind to beat USC. The game matched unbeaten teams for the first time in the 22-year history of the Big 10-Pac 8 meeting. Heisman winner O.J. Simpson followed a USC field goal with an 80-yard run to take the Trojans to a 10-0 lead. Ohio State answered with a 1-yard run by Jim Otis and a 26-yard field goal by Jim Roman to tie before the half. Ohio State put it away with 14 points early in the final quarter Kern, the game’s MVP, hit Ray Gillian on first down for the score and a commanding 27-10 lead with 10:05 remaining. USC turned the ball over five times on the day, while Ohio State was error-free.
1971 Rose Bowl • No. 12 Stanford 27, No. 2 Ohio State 17
Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett quarterbacked Stanford to a come-from-behind win over favored and previously unbeaten Ohio State. Plunkett passed 30 times, completing 20 for 265 yards and a touchdown. His performance offset a tremendous rushing day for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes rolled up 364 yards on the ground and led the Cardinal in total offense, 439-408. Rex Kern led Ohio State with 129 yards rushing, while John Brockington added 101 and two touchdowns. Ohio State held a 14-10 lead at the half. After trading third quarter field goals, Ohio State drove from its own 6 to the Stanford 19 to begin the final quarter. On fourth and less than a yard, the Cardinal defense stopped Brockington short. Plunkett then ran and passed down the field for the go-ahead score.
1973 Rose Bowl • No. 1 Southern California 42, No. 3 Ohio State 17
Led by tailback Anthony Davis, USC broke a 7-all tie at halftime with three third quarter scores. Davis collected 157 of USC’s 207 rushing yards and set up a Rose Bowl-record four Sam Cunningham touchdown runs. The Trojans scored each time they touched the ball in the third quarter, Cunningham twice and Davis once. The third quarter overshadowed a fine first half effort by Ohio State. At the half Ohio State held a 151-75 edge in rushing yards. Archie Griffin tallied 73 yards on 15 carries in the first half. Ohio State appeared to be in gear when fullback Randy Keith capped a 56-yard, eight-play drive with 13:37 to go in the first half. But Ohio State could manage only a field goal in the third and a John Bledsoe dash that ended an 87-yard drive with 44 seconds to play.
1974 Rose Bowl • No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 7 Southern California 21
Ohio State used a powerful running attack, led by Archie Griffin’s 149 yards, to break open a close game. Pete Johnson added 94 yards and three touchdowns for the Buckeyes, who totaled 320 yards on the ground. Ohio State fell behind, 21-14, early in the third before scoring the final 13 points of the quarter. The first score was set up by a Cornelius Greene to Fred Pagac pass for 39 yards to the USC 4. Johnson bulled over for the tally, and a blocked extra point kick left it 21-20. Ohio State took the lead for good after Neal Colzie set up the go-ahead score with a 56-yard punt return to the USC 9. Greene covered the final yard with 2:12 left in the quarter for a 27-21 lead. Griffin capped the final scoring drive with 4:35 remaining by dashing 47 yards.
1975 Rose Bowl • No. 5 Southern California 18, No. 3 Ohio State 17
Shelton Diggs made a diving catch of a Pat Haden pass for a two-point conversion with just more than two minutes left in the game to bring the Trojans from behind and spoil Ohio State’s national championship hopes. It ended a wild final stanza in which 25 of the game’s 35 points were scored. The third period was one of missed opportunities for the Buckeyes, who twice had the ball inside the USC 10 but failed to score. Ohio State had staked itself to a 17-10 lead by scoring on its first two possessions of the fourth period, however. Cornelius Greene led an 82-yard drive, covering the final 3 yards himself for the first score. Following a USC fumble at its own 30, Tom Klaban kicked a field goal when the Buckeyes stalled out. Haden, starting at the USC 17, took the Trojans 83 yards to the winning touchdown and conversion. Tom Skladany’s 62-yard field goal try fell short on Ohio State’s ensuing drive.
1976 Rose Bowl • No. 11 UCLA 23, No. 1 Ohio State 10
All-American Quarterback John Sciarra led UCLA to 23 second-half points to upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Ohio State. Sciarra hit on nine of 13 second-half attempts for 173 yards, helping the Bruins amass 366 yards in total offense in the half. Despite the backfield of Big Ten MVP Cornelius Greene, two-time Heisman Trophy Award winner Archie Griffin and national scoring leader Pete Johnson, OSU was limited to 124 yards in the second half. Ohio State was impressive offensively in the first half, gaining 174 yards and 11 first downs, but managed only a 3-0 lead. Sparked by Sciarra and the running of Wendell Tyler, the Bruins roared back to dash OSU’s national championship hopes and spoil a fourth-consecutive Rose Bowl trip for the Buckeye seniors.
1980 Rose Bowl • No. 3 Southern California 18, No. 1 Ohio State 17
Unranked in the preseason polls, the Buckeyes posted an 11-0 regular season record, but thanks to Charles White, their fairy tale season came to an end in the Rose Bowl. White, the Heisman Trophy winner, shattered the Rose Bowl rushing record with 242 yards, including 71 yards on USC’s game-winning drive. Trailing 16-10 with 5:21 to play, the top-ranked Trojans marched 83 yards in eight plays, with White diving over from the 1 for the score. The all-important point after knocked the No. 2 Buckeyes out of national championship contention. USC outgained OSU, 519-412, in total offense.
1985 Rose Bowl • No. 18 Southern California 20, No. 6 Ohio State 17
Ohio State outgained USC, 403-261, but the Trojan defense steadfastly refused to let the Buckeyes cross the goal line. USC led 17-6 at the half on a pair of TD passes by Tim Green. OSU’s Rich Spangler made it 17-9 with a Rose Bowl record 52-yard field goal, but USC offset that score with Steve Jordan’s second field goal of the day. Ohio State finally scored a TD with 7:34 to play on a Mike Tomczak to Cris Carter pass. Tomczak’s run on the PAT made it 20-17. Ohio State had one final possession and moved to the USC 43. But the next four plays resulted in a sack and three incompletions, and the Buckeyes’ three-game bowl winning streak was ended. Carter, the freshman split end, caught nine passes for 172 yards to shatter Don Hutson’s Rose Bowl record.
1997 Rose Bowl • No. 4 Ohio State 20, No. 2 Arizona State 17
A come-from-behind win over previously unbeaten Arizon State propelled the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and the No. 2 spot in both polls. Joe Germaine came off the bench to lead the Buckeyes to the victory and was named Most Outstanding Player. OSU took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 9-yard pass from Stanley Jackson to David Boston. ASU scored early in the second period on a 25-yard pass from Jake Plummer to Ricky Boyer. ASU jumped out to a 10-7 lead on their first possession of the second half on a 37-yard field goal. The Buckeyes recaptured the lead moments later when Germaine and Dimitrious Stanley hooked up on a 72-yard pass. Plummer, on a third-and-11, somehow snaked his way into the end zone to give ASU a 17-14 lead with 1:40 to play. Germaine’s responded by calmly marching the Buckeyes 65 yards in 12 plays, hitting Boston from 5 yards out with the game winner.
2010 Rose Bowl • No. 8 Ohio State 26, No. 7 Oregon 17
Terrelle Pryor earned MVP honors, completing 23 of 37 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Ohio State in rushing with 72 yards. Ohio State’s offense held the ball for 89 plays and a Rose Bowl record 41:37 to keep the high-powered Duck offense on the sideline. After Oregon came from 10 down to tie the score at 10, OSU went on a 19-play drive that led to a Devin Barclay 30-yd FG. A Ross Homan INT with just 25 seconds remaining before intermission gave Pryor just enough time to set up a 45-yard Aaron Pettrey field goal as time expired. Pryor directed a 13-play, 81-yard fourth quarter touchdown drive for a 26-17 lead, finding DeVier Posey in the end zone from 17 yards. Ohio State’s defense limited the Ducks to a mere 260 offensive yards.
