1977 Rose Bowl

The 1977 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1977. It was the 63rd Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 14–6. USC quarterback Vince Evans was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game. USC freshman tailback Charles White, subbing for Heisman Trophy runner-up Ricky Bell, who was injured in the first quarter, wound up with 122 yards and a touchdown.

Teams

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan won their first eight games and spent most of the season ranked #1, until an upset loss to Purdue on November 6 by a score of 16–14. They capped off their Big Ten championship with a 22–0 shutout of arch rival Ohio State and came into the Rose Bowl ranked #3.

USC Trojans

USC was upset in the season opener by Missouri, 46–25, the Trojans' fifth straight regular season loss dating back to the prior season. They then won the rest of their games, climaxed by a 24–14 win over #2 UCLA to clinch the conference championship.

Scoring

First quarter

• No score

Second quarter

• Michigan - Rob Lytle, 1-yard run (Bob Wood kick blocked)
• USC - Vince Evans, 1-yard run (Walker kick)

Third quarter

• No score

Fourth quarter

• USC - Charles White, 7-yard run (Walker kick)

Aftermath

Undefeated Pittsburgh, led by Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett, was the consensus #1 team in the country going into the bowls and played Georgia in the 1977 Sugar Bowl. USC and Michigan hoped Georgia would upset Pitt to set up the Rose Bowl as a national championship showdown, but Pitt scored a dominant 27–3 win over #4 Georgia to keep its #1 ranking. USC finished as the #2 ranked team in both major polls, and Michigan finished ranked #3.

References

External links

• Summary at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History