1955 Rose Bowl
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| 1955 Rose Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 41st Rose Bowl Game | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 1, 1955 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Rose Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Pasadena, California | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Dave Leggett (Ohio State QB) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Ohio State by 14 points [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Edward Wagner (AAWU; split crew: AAWU, Big Ten) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | K. Massey & Archie Whatley | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 89,191 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | NBC | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Mel Allen | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 1955 Rose Bowl was the 41st edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, January 1. The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference defeated the USC Trojans of the Pacific Coast Conference, 20–7.[2][3][4]
Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes came into his first Rose Bowl tied for the national championship with PCC champion UCLA. However, #2 UCLA was locked out of the game because of the PCC's "no-repeat" rule,[5] enacted after California's third consecutive appearance in January 1951.
Ohio State
Ohio State quarterback Dave Leggett threw eleven passes, completing six, one a touchdown pass to Robert Archbald Watkins Jr.[4] Halfback Hopalong Cassady ran for 92 yards and led the Buckeyes to 304 yards on the ground and an overall advantage of 360-206 yards in total offense.
USC
The only touchdown by USC was an 86-yard punt return by Aramis Dandoy.
Game summary
The teams played in the first rainstorm to hit Pasadena during a Rose Bowl in more than 50 years.[6] The fans were under umbrellas, and it rained during the entire game, turning the field to mud.[7]
Scoring
First quarter
- No scoring
Second quarter
- OSU – Dave Leggett 3-yard run (Tad Weed kick)
- OSU – Bob Watkins 21-yard pass from Leggett (Watkins kick)
- USC – Aramis Dandoy 86-yard punt return (Sam Tsagalakis kick)
Third quarter
- No scoring
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Dick Harkrader 9-yard run (Weed kick blocked)