The 2017 Rose Bowl was one of the greatest football games in the 2016-2017 college football season. It featured two of the hottest teams in college football, squaring off in beautiful Pasadena, California.

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The University of Southern California Trojans squared off against the Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions, who were Big10 Champions. USC entered the game ranked ninth, while Penn State was ranked fifth. Both teams were on long winning streaks, after they had shaky starts to the season. USC entered the game winning eight consecutive games after a 1-3 start, while the Nittany Lions entered the game on a nine game winning streak after starting the season 2-2. This game was bound to be one for the ages, and it certainly did not disappoint.

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Penn State had a very slow start to the game, which was not anything new for the Nittany Lions this season. Trace McSorley threw interceptions on consecutive drives to start the game for Penn State, but he did not let these turnovers define what kind of game Nittany Lions will play. After falling behind early 13-0, Penn State was able to stay in the ballgame while keeping the game within only two scores throughout the entire first half.

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It was evident early in the game that USC quarterback Sam Darnold is a legit talent, who was able to have a fantastic game every time he stepped on the gridiron. He had a fantastic game for the Trojans, and he passed all over the Penn State defense. He made all of the throws, no matter if he was on the run or stepping up into the pocket. Darnold proved that the bigger the stage, the bigger the game he could have. Darnold had one of the greatest Rose Bowl’s in the history of the game. He set the record for most passing touchdowns in a game with five, most points responsible for with thirty-two, and most passing yards in a Rose Bowl from one player with 474. Darnold is only a true freshman, so PAC 12 foes best take notice of this extraordinary talent at QB for at least the next two seasons.

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Although the Trojans were able to score fifty-two points, Penn State played a fantastic game as well, and put up milestones of their own. After going into halftime trailing 27-21, Penn State scored twenty-eight points in the third quarter, which is the most points scored by a team in the third quarter of a Rose Bowl, ever. McSorley had a great game aside from the turnovers, which definitely gave Penn State a legit chance to win. McSorley even set the record for most touchdowns responsible for in a Rose Bowl with five and also was able to lead the Nittany Lions to forty-nine points which is the most points ever by a team in a losing effort of a Rose Bowl. Chris Godwin and Saquon Barkley also helped Penn State keep pace with USC. Godwin had nine catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. His teammate Barkley had twenty-five carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was one of the greatest runs in Rose Bowl history. These three could not pace with Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter, unfortunately.

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After going into the fourth quarter winning 49-35, Penn State appeared to have the game almost out of reach, until James Franklin and company decided to let their foot off the gas, and go into a conservative offense which ended up costing the Nittany Lions the game. The fourth quarter play calling was terrible for the Nittany Lions, and the zone coverage all game that Penn State played was not working at all. Darnold picked them apart, and was able to constantly find the holes in the zone especially since there was very little pressure on him. It was truly a shame that Penn State gave up seventeen unanswered to end the game after scoring twenty-eight in the quarter before.

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Although it was an amazing season for Penn State that not many fans saw coming and every fan should be proud of, Penn State should have won that football game and been Rose Bowl champions! USC should consider themselves lucky to have escaped that football game as Rose Bowl champions, and I personally look forward to hopefully facing them again next season in the college football playoff!