USC and Penn State gave us a Rose Bowl for the ages

You say that bowl games outside of the College Football Playoff grouping don’t matter anymore. I say run yourself to the DVR and watch the 2017 Rose Bowl and dare to say that again.

Monday night, the latest edition of the Granddaddy of ‘Em All gave us one of the greatest college football games that we have ever seen, and most certainly the game of the year for the 2016 season as a whole. USC and Penn State took the field in Pasadena to take part in the most storied bowl game in the history of college football, and when all was said and done, we came away wanting to give both teams a standing ovation with tears in our eyes.

Sports is a form of entertainment in a sense, and when it comes to entertainment, one crucial aspect of compelling entertainment is good storytelling. This game had great storytelling before it even kicked off. Here were two traditional college football powerhouses who haven’t enjoyed the success of the good ole days as of late, dealt with NCAA sanctions and didn’t even get off to starts in 2016 that would remotely lead you to believe they were destined to meet in the Rose Bowl Game; USC started off the year 1-3 before going on their hot streak, while Penn State started 2-2 prior to putting it all together. And when these two teams finally did put it all together after their respective fourth games of the season, there was no stopping them. Just ask two members of this year’s College Football Playoff field, Washington and Ohio State. They’ll tell you.

All that was left to do between these two programs was kick the ball off in front of 95,128 fans in Pasadena. And when they did, they created a masterpiece of a game that we will never forget.

The funny part is, just like the start of the season for each of these teams, the beginning of this one wouldn’t give you the indication that something special was about to happen. Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley threw two interceptions on the first two drives, and USC missed a 51-yard field goal. It was as sloppy as can be, leaving fans sarcastically wondering whether or not either one of these teams wanted to finish off their magical season on a high note.

But then, USC scored on a Sam Darnold 26-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Deontay Burnett –who would end up bringing in two more touchdown tosses on the evening and tallying 164 yards receiving– and we were off to the races in what would become one of the more memorable games in college football history.

The Trojans and the Nittany Lions would trade blows in the first half, with Penn State pass catchers showing of their insane athleticism as they came from 13-0 down early to go into the half only down 27-21.

Ultimately, though, while Penn State was providing the viral highlights in this one, the first half belonged to the Trojans of Southern California, who provided the bigger number on the Rose Bowl scoreboard.

Now it was time for fans around the nation to be introduced to something all too familiar to the Big Ten: Penn State just magically transforms into a juggernaut in the second half. And boy, did Penn State get that transformation process started off in emphatic fashion by unleashing the rushing nightmare that is Saquon Barkley.

Yet another highlight for the Nittany Lions as they would cruise to a 49-35 lead entering the final 15 minutes of action out in Pasadena — they were doing it again.

But now, instead of Penn State solidifying their status as the best second half team in the country, it was time for what may be the most important ingredient of an all-time classic college football game — it was time for a legend to be be born before our very eyes.

USC redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold was emerging as a star for the Trojans throughout the year as he led them on an eight-game winning streak to end the regular season. But now it was time for him to show he had the stones to shine the brightest when it mattered the most for his team, and that is exactly what he did.

While some would curl up into an emotional ball in the moment, Darnold helped the Trojans erase a 14-point deficit against Penn State, and he did so in flawless fashion. And no, that’s not hyperbole at all. USC’s newest stud under center was a perfect 10-for-10 in the final 15 minutes against the Nittany Lions defense. None of those ten completions were more important, though, than the dart that Darnold fired to Deontay Burnett with 1:20 on the clock to tie everything up at 49.

With that much time on the clock, Penn State had a glimmer of hope to come away with the dramatic win late, but a costly decision by Trace McSorley erased all of the hope that existed. The Trojans immediately got the ball back with tremendous field position, and kicker Matt Boermeester more than redeemed himself for that early first quarter miss by banging through a 46-yard field goal to give USC –and college football– one of the more memorable wins in Rose Bowl history.

USC took the 52-49 win, and at that point it was time to have some numbers thrown our way to prove that this was indeed one of the greatest renditions of the Rose Bowl in history.

• 473 total yards for Sam Darnold – Rose Bowl record
• 453 passing yards for Sam Darnold – Second-most in Rose Bowl history
• Five touchdown passes for Sam Darnold – Rose Bowl record
• 101 combined total points – Rose Bowl record
• 49 points for Penn State – Most ever by Rose Bowl loser
• 33 USC first downs – Rose Bowl record
• 13 combined trips to the end zone – Rose Bowl record
• Nine combined scores through the air – Rose Bowl record

That’s just a short list of the eye-popping stats that were delivered from this thrilling contest on Monday night in Pasadena.

Was this the greatest Rose Bowl Game in history, as some are calling it in the immediate aftermath? No, it’ll be pretty difficult for any Rose Bowl Game –or any college football game in general for that matter– to top the all-time classic that was the BCS National Championship battle in 2006 between Pete Carroll’s USC squad and the Texas Longhorns.

But there is no doubt that what took place on Monday night ranks right up there near the top of the list when it comes to the Granddaddy of ‘Em All, wherever you so choose to place it.

For that, we all owe both the USC Trojans and the Penn State Nittany Lions, as college football fans, a monumental thanks for entertaining us with that thriller to help close out the 2016 season.