USC wins Rose Bowl on last-second field goal (Video)
The USC Trojans completed an epic comeback in the 2017 Rose Bowl, surging back from 14 points down to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired
In the 2017 Rose Bowl, it looked early on like it would be all about the USC Trojans. They led by 13 points in the first half, and it could have been more if not for a pair of Matt Boermeester missed field goals. However, the Penn State Nittany Lions wouldn’t be denied. They scored 28 points in the third quarter to take a 14-point lead. That left USC needing a comeback—and Sam Darnold provided it.
However, Darnold’s late fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tie the game ultimately gave the Nittany Lions plenty of time to make something happen and potentially get into field goal range. Instead, though, mistakes by Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley ultimately put the Trojans in field goal range off of a horrible interception.
In great position, the Trojans ran down the clock and moved a bit closer to help out Boermeester. Well within his range in terms of power, all he needed to do was put it on target to win the 2017 Rose Bowl. Despite his shortcomings earlier in the game, though, the kicker came through as he split the uprights with the game-winning field goal:
No bowl games can hold a candle to the drama that the Rose Bowl provided. Between Darnold throwing a record-breaking five touchdown passes, Penn State surging into the lead, and then USC completing the comeback—and of course the 101 combined points—this was peak college football entertainment.
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Off of this Rose Bowl win, you have to be salivating at the future of the Trojans. Darnold is an absolute stud and will return for his redshirt sophomore season next years. Flanked by a number of other playmakers as well, we may be witnessing the resurgence of a great program. The Darnold is making USC great again, of course.