USC 17 Michigan 10
Bo Schembechler tries to do it again but he walks off the Rose Bowl turf for the last time with a 17-10 loss to USC and a 2-8 mark for this unlucky career in Pasadena. Larry Smith's Trojans (8-2-1) utilize a 22 of 31 passing performance by southpaw freshman, Todd Marinovich and a 126-yard running day by Pasadena's own Ricky Ervins to take a hard-earned victory over the Wolverines (10-1). Ervins scored the winning touchdown with at 14-yard run with 1:10 remaining. Michael Taylor completes 10 of 19 passes for Michigan and the previous year's star Leroy Hoard runs for 121. USC gets its victory chance and saves its neck when a holding penalty nullifies a trick play calling for punter Chris Stapleton to run on fourth and two from his 46-yard line. He gains 24 big yards, but the penalty forces a kick with USC taking over for its winning drive. No, Pasadena isn't Bo's town.