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The 1985 Rose Bowl Game was a postseason college football bowl game between the USC Trojans of the Pacific-10 Conference and Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, held on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game resulted in a 20–17 victory for the underdog Trojans.

Scoring summary

First quarter

• Ohio State – Spangler 21-yard field goal, 12:08 – OSU 3, USC 0
• USC – Jordan 51-yard field goal, 6:52 – OSU 3, USC 3
• USC – Cormier 3-yard pass from Green (Jordan kick) 1:54 – USC 10, OSU 3

Second quarter

• USC – Ware 19-yard pass from Green (Jordan kick) – USC 17, OSU 3
• Ohio State – Spangler 46-yard field goal, 0:00 – USC 17, OSU 6

Third quarter

• Ohio State – Spangler 52-yard field goal, 6:37 – USC 17, OSU 9
• USC – Jordan 51-yard field goal, 4:05 – USC 20, OSU 9

Fourth quarter

• Ohio State – Carter 18-yard pass from Tomczak (Tomczak run), 7:34 – USC 20, OSU 17

Source:

Tim Green and Jack Del Rio earned the Rose Bowl MVP awards.

Highlights

• With fourth straight win, Pac-10 takes its first lead in the series with the Big Ten, 20–19
  • Pac-10 has won ten of eleven, and fourteen of the last sixteen meetings
• Using a swarming defense, USC caused three Mike Tomczak interceptions
• Tomczak threw 37 passes in the game
• Ohio State kicker Rich Spangler scored a Rose Bowl-record 52-yard field goal
• USC kicker Steve Jordan had two 51-yard field goals
• Big contribution from Trojans' Tim Green and Timmie Ware, Joe Cormier, Fred Crutcher, and Kennedy Pola

Statistics

Statistics	USC	Ohio     State
First downs	16	19
Rushes–yards	42–133	34–113
Passing yards	128	290
Passes	13–25–0	24–37–3
Total yards	261	403
Punts–average	7–42	4–48
Fumbles–lost	2–1	4–1
Turnovers by	1	4
Penalties–yards	4–38	4–46
Time of possession	31:11	28:47

Source:

References

1. "The latest line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1985. p. 39.
2. "Rose Bowl". Pittsburgh Press. December 31, 1984. p. D3.
3. "Betting line". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). January 1, 1985. p. 15.
4. "USC holds on to beat Ohio State, 20–17". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). wire services. January 2, 1985. p. 34.
5. ^ "USC smells the roses again, 20–17". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1985. p. B1.
6. ^ Brennan, Christine (January 2, 1985). "Trojans play familiar tune at Rose Bowl". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Washington Post). p. 1C.
7. Rose Bowl Game Photo Timeline, 1980–1989, Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Accessed July 21, 2009. July 23, 2009.
8. Tosches, Rich (January 2, 1985). "USC downs champs of not-so-Big Ten". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. p. D1.
9. Gugger, John (January 2, 1985). "Big Ten string of losses in Rose Bowl continues". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 24.
10. Historical Media Guide, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, 2009
11. ^ "Rose Bowl". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). January 2, 1985. p. 36.

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• 1984–85 NCAA football bowl games
• Rose Bowl Game
• 20th century in Pasadena, California
• Ohio State Buckeyes football bowl games
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• January 1985 sports events in the United States
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