1968 Rose Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Rose Bowl was a college football
bowl game
played on January 1, 1968. It was the 54th Rose Bowl Game
. The USC Trojans defeated the Indiana Hoosiers
, 14–7. O. J. Simpson
, the USC tailback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
in a close 3–0 game. They earned the #1 ranking after claiming a close 21–20 win over rival and then-#1 UCLA
in the last week of their season, guaranteeing their spot in the Big Ten/Pac-8 classic. They were led by their powerful tailback O. J. Simpson.
champion Hoosiers also came into the game with a 9–1 record, losing to Minnesota a week before defeating Purdue
. A three-way league title championship was created when Indiana, Minnesota, and Purdue all finished with 6–1 league records, each defeating and losing to one of the other. Indiana's better overall record of 9–1 compared with two at 8–2 gave them the Rose Bowl berth. Quarterback
Harry Gonso led the Hoosiers into their first ever bowl game.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
played on January 1, 1968. It was the 54th Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. The USC Trojans defeated the Indiana Hoosiers
1967 Indiana Hoosiers football team
The 1967 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University in the 1967 college football season.-Schedule:-Team players in the NFL:-Awards and honors:*John Pont, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year*John Pont, Paul Bear Bryant Award...
, 14–7. O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
, the USC tailback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game.
Teams
This was the first and to date, only Rose Bowl appearance for Indiana. Being an even-numbered year for the bowl game, Indiana wore their crimson jerseys as the home team and USC wore their white shirts as the designated visiting team.USC Trojans
The top-ranked and Pac-8 champion Trojans came into the game with a 9–1 record, losing only to Oregon State1967 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 1967 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 1967 NCAA college football season. The Beavers ended this season with seven wins, two losses, and a tie. The Beavers scored 187 points and allowed 137 points...
in a close 3–0 game. They earned the #1 ranking after claiming a close 21–20 win over rival and then-#1 UCLA
1967 UCLA Bruins football team
The 1967 UCLA Bruins football team represented UCLA in the 1967 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Bruins offense scored 284 points while the defense allowed 161 points.-Schedule:-Team players drafted into in the NFL:...
in the last week of their season, guaranteeing their spot in the Big Ten/Pac-8 classic. They were led by their powerful tailback O. J. Simpson.
Indiana Hoosiers
The #4-ranked and co-Big TenBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
champion Hoosiers also came into the game with a 9–1 record, losing to Minnesota a week before defeating Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
. A three-way league title championship was created when Indiana, Minnesota, and Purdue all finished with 6–1 league records, each defeating and losing to one of the other. Indiana's better overall record of 9–1 compared with two at 8–2 gave them the Rose Bowl berth. Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Harry Gonso led the Hoosiers into their first ever bowl game.