25 best college football bowl games in history

1. Texas vs. USC, 2006 Rose Bowl

With two Heisman finalists duking it out and a last-second score to win a national title game between a pair of teams absolutely loaded with talent, the 2006 Rose Bowl stands out as the top game in all of college football history.

Texas held the No. 2 spot in the rankings for the entire season with a 12-0 record that included a non-conference triumph over No. 4 Ohio State. Junior quarterback Vince Young blossomed into a star with over 4,000 total yards and 28 touchdowns to finish second in the Heisman, while running back Jamaal Charles averaged 7.4 yards per carry to lead the nation’s top offense.

The only reason Texas didn’t crack the top of the polls was USC going wire-to-wire at No. 1. USC extended its winning streak to 34 games by the end of the year behind Heisman winner Reggie Bush and third-place finisher Matt Leinart.

Defenses ruled the first quarter before the two star-studded offenses got going in the second, with Texas pulling ahead 16-10 at the half. Young and LenDale White traded touchdowns in the third before the Trojans got some separation on scores by Bush and Dwayne Jarrett to open a 38-26 lead with 6:42 to go.

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Young accounted for every yard of Texas’ next drive to make it 38-33 shortly after. Pete Carroll then decided to go for it on a fourth-and-short near midfield that would have sealed the game for USC, but White was stuffed to give Texas a lifeline.

After driving the ball down to the nine, Texas faced a 4th-and-5 with time running out. Young raced by the Trojan defenders into the end zone, sealing a legendary 41-38 win. The Heisman runner-up won his second consecutive Rose Bowl MVP award with 467 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.

The win marked Texas’ first national championship since 1970. A staggering combined 49 players from both sides went on to play in the NFL.