USC 41 Northwestern 32
USC has two players who stand above all others -- the reason the Trojans defeat the popular Northwestern Wildcats 41-32 in the 50th anniversary game of the Pac-10, Big Ten, Tournament of Roses pact. Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson makes 12 catches for a Rose Bowl record 216 yards (and Player of the Game status), and quarterback Brad Otton completes 29 of 44 passes for 391 yards, including two touchdowns. The key Johnson catch is good for 56 yards and a score when Northwestern rallies in the second half, the play Wildcat coach Gary Barnett admits "parted the seas," before 100,102 spectators. Darnell Autry scores three touchdowns for Northwestern while gaining 110 tough yards on 32 carries. Quarterback Steve Schnur passes for 336 yards on a 23 for 39 passing day, and D'Wayne Bates catches seven, but USC gives John Robinson his fourth Rose Bowl victory during his career by making the big plays at the crucial moment. One of these plays occurs when Sammy Knight strips the ball from Brian Musso and Daylon McCutcheon races 53 yards for a touchdown to make the score 24-7 late in the second quarter. The other comes when a Schnur pass sails too high with Northwestern trailing only 34-32 in the fourth quarter. The ball is intercepted by Trojan safety Jesse Davis, who returns it 41 yards and sets up the clinching touchdown by Delon Washington.