The 2006 Rose Bowl remains the most-watched BCS championship game in television history
In short: When Texas met USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl, it was billed as the most anticipated matchup in college football history. Featuring two unbeaten teams and two Heisman Trophy winners, the game lived up to the hype, culminating in a legendary final drive that forever changed how the sport is officiated.
The 2006 Rose Bowl, held on January 4, 2006, served as the BCS National Championship. It pitted the reigning Big 12 champion Texas Longhorns against the two-time defending AP national champion USC Trojans. The stakes were immense: USC entered on a 34-game winning streak, while Texas carried a 19-game streak of its own. The combined 53-game winning streak remains an NCAA record for teams facing one another. The game was a showcase of elite talent, marking the first time two Heisman winners, USC's Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, started in the same lineup.
The contest was defined by back-and-forth scoring and controversial officiating. Texas quarterback Vince Young delivered a historic performance, accounting for 467 yards of total offense. With just 19 seconds remaining, Young scored a game-winning touchdown run. The game was so closely contested that USC coach Pete Carroll’s decision to attempt a fourth-down conversion at the Texas 45-yard line—rather than punting—became a defining moment of the era. The Texas defense stopped the Trojans, securing a 41–38 victory and the school's fourth national title.
The aftermath of the game reshaped college football. The high volume of unreviewed, disputed calls led the NCAA Football Rules Committee to introduce coach’s challenges the following season. While the game is widely considered the greatest college football match ever played, its legacy is complicated by later sanctions. In 2010, the NCAA vacated USC’s 2005 wins due to eligibility violations involving Reggie Bush. Although the NCAA typically only removes victories, USC officially claims the Rose Bowl loss was also vacated, leaving their 2005 season record at 0–0. Regardless of the record books, the game remains a cultural touchstone, with 21.7% of households tuning in to watch the spectacle.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2006 Rose Bowl
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