Ranking memorable Penn State Football Rose Bowl appearances

By Joey Lovell | Dec 10, 2022

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions greets quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans after the Trojans defeated the Nittany Lions 52-49 to win the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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Dec 31, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno, left, and Southern California Trojans coach Pete Carroll. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /

It would be 14 long years before Penn State would make a return trip to Pasadena. The 2008 season saw PSU finish 11-1, ranked #8 in the BCS polls. Their foe awaiting them was the University of Southern California, 11-1 themselves, coached by Pete Carroll and ranked #5.

USC took an early lead on a TD pass from Mark Sanchez. PSU answered with a 9-yard TD run from their own QB, Darryl Clark. That was as close as it would ever get, as USC scored 24 points in the second quarter and never looked back, cruising to a 38-24 victory.

Turnovers and USC’s passing attack told the tale of the tape. Penn State’s ground game actually outgained the Southern Cal 137 yards to 61 yards. What makes that stat more impressive is USC only averaged 1.7 yards per carry, compared to 4.7 by PSU. But 4 Penn State turnovers and USC gaining 410 yards and 4 TDs in the air offset any edge PSU might have had elsewhere.

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