2008 Rose Bowl

2008 Rose Bowl presented by Citi
94th Rose Bowl Game
The Naval Base Ventura County Honor Guard parades the colors as the University of Southern California Marching Band performed the national anthem during the 2008 Rose Bowl game
Illinois Fighting Illini USC Trojans (9–3) (10-2) Big Ten Pac-10 17 49 Head coach:  Ron Zook Head coach:  Pete Carroll AP Coaches BCS 13 13 13 AP Coaches BCS 6 6 7
1 2 3 4 Total Illinois 0 3 7 7 17 USC 14 7 14 14 49
Date	January 1, 2008
Season	2007
Stadium	Rose Bowl
Location	Pasadena, California
MVP	Offensive: John David Booty (USC QB) Defensive: Rey Maualuga (USC LB)
Favorite	USC by 13.5
National anthem	Spirit of Troy
Referee	Dennis Hennigan (Big East)
Halftime show	Marching Illini Spirit of Troy
Attendance	93,923
Payout	US$17 million per team
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN on ABC
Announcers	Brent Musburger (play-by-play) Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) Lisa Salters (sideline)
Nielsen ratings	11.11

The 2008 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi, the 94th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, was a college football bowl game. The contest was televised on ABC, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST. The game's main sponsor was Citi.

The 2008 Rose Bowl featured the 7th-ranked USC Trojans hosting the 13th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini. As with the previous year's game, the contest was a semi-traditional Rose Bowl in that while it was a Big Ten versus Pac-10 matchup, the Big Ten representative was an at-large team because the conference champion, Ohio State, which lost to Illinois earlier in the season, was selected to play in the BCS National Championship Game.

USC was making its third straight appearance in the Rose Bowl, while Illinois had not played in the game since 1984. Though Illinois won the Big Ten Conference title in 2001, the then-rotating BCS title game moved them to the Sugar Bowl.

Game summary

USC took an early 21–0 lead, including a touchdown pass by backup quarterback Garrett Green on a trick play. Illinois verged on closing to 21–10 midway through the third quarter, but receiver Jacob Willis fumbled into the end zone after a catch and Trojans linebacker Brian Cushing recovered for a touchback. USC converted that miscue into a touchdown and then cornerback Cary Harris intercepted Illinois quarterback Juice Williams's pass on the first play of the ensuing possession. Five plays later, Trojans freshman Joe McKnight scored on a 6-yard run, making the score 35–10. USC gained a Rose Bowl-record 633 yards of offense in defeating Illinois 49–17.

Scoring summary

Plays	Yards	Scoring Play	Time	Score
1st quarter
9	72	USC - Chauncey Washington, 8-yard pass from John David Booty (David Buehler kick)	2:12	ILL 0 - USC 7
1	34	USC - Desmond Reed, 34-yard pass from Garrett Green (David Buehler kick)	0:09	ILL 0 - USC 14
2nd quarter
6	43	USC - Chauncey Washington, 3-yard run (David Buehler kick)	2:10	ILL 0 - USC 21
12	69	ILL - Jason Reda, 28-yard field goal	1:43	ILL 3 - USC 21
3rd quarter
2	88	ILL - Rashard Mendenhall, 79-yard run (Jason Reda kick)	0:47	ILL 10 - USC 21
8	80	USC - Fred Davis, 2-yard pass from John David Booty (David Buehler kick)	2:06	ILL 10 - USC 28
5	68	USC - Joe McKnight, 6-yard run (David Buehler kick)	1:21	ILL 10 - USC 35
4th quarter
8	67	USC - David Ausberry, 15-yard pass from John David Booty (David Buehler kick)	3:06	ILL 10 - USC 42
6	87	USC - Hershel Dennis, 3-yard run (David Buehler kick)	1:04	ILL 10 - USC 49
3	63	ILL - Arrelious Benn, 56-yard pass from Eddie McGee (Jason Reda kick)	1:11	ILL 17 - USC 49

Game records

Team	Performance vs. Opponent	Year
Most points scored	49, USC vs. Illinois (tied with 2 others) - supplanted by Oregon in 2015	2008
Total yards	633, USC vs. Illinois	2008

Most TD passes career, Rose Bowl History- 7, John David Booty