25 best college football bowl games in history

21. USC vs. Wisconsin, 1963 Rose Bowl

With a wild Wisconsin comeback falling just short in the first ever matchup between a No. 1 and No. 2 team in a bowl game, the 1963 edition of the Granddaddy of Them All holds a special place in college football history.

The No. 2 Badgers were seeking both their first Rose Bowl win and national championship in program history following an 8-1 regular season. Wisconsin owned the nation’s top scoring offense at 32.2 points per game, with quarterback Ron Vander Kelen leading the way.

Top-ranked USC was a far more successful program at the time with eight Rose Bowl wins, although it hadn’t claimed a national championship since the 1930s. The 1962 Trojans were a perfect 10-0 in regular season under legendary head coach John McKay and featured a defense that allowed just 8.2 points per game.

USC looked to be in line for an easy win after quarterback Pete Beathard racked up his fourth touchdown pass of the game to put the Trojans up 42-14 six seconds into the final quarter. However, the Badgers scored 23 quick points behind a pair of touchdown passes from Vander Kelen to make the score 42-37 before just barely running out of time to complete what would have been the greatest comeback in major bowl history.

Vander Kelen went 33-of-48 for 401 yards to help the Badgers set a number of offensive Rose Bowl records, most of which would stand for over three decades. The comeback effort helped Wisconsin remain second in the polls, still the highest finish in school history, while the Trojans would win two more titles under McKay.