Gen Z watches 2006 Rose Bowl between USC and Texas for first time … These are their reactions

Gen Z college football fans watched the 2006 Rose Bowl between USC and Texas for the first time. These are their reactions to the greatest game ever played.

The 2006 Rose Bowl between the USC Trojans and Texas Longhorns is the greatest college football game I’ve ever seen. I was a fan of USC at the time when Pete Carroll ran L.A and Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and the Trojans played for their third national title in as many years.

I loved Texas quarterback Vince Young but didn’t think his Superman act would be enough to dethrone the kings of college football in the Granddaddy of ’em All.

Boy was I wrong! So many others were too when Young ran in for the game-winning touchdown from eight yards out on 4th-and-5 with 19 seconds left for a 41-38 win to give Texas the national championship. Young had 467 total yards to give Texas football their first national title in 35 years.

I’m old so I remember just about everything from that game, and it’s produced many all-time great memories, but many of the younger FanSided college sportswriters are of a younger generation. With ESPN replaying the 2006 Rose Bowl on Thursday night, they got to experience the greatest college football game ever played as if it was in real-time.

These are their reactions (and the reactions from notable college football media, coaches and players from the game).

Pre-game/First quarter

Schmidt: It feels good to hear Keith Jackson call a game.

Brandon Jefferson: All I remember was thinking Texas had zero chance but VY would likely do some cool things.

John Buhler: I remember everybody and their brother were all-in on USC. But I had a feeling Vince Young was going to have an incredible game because he didn’t win the Heisman.

Jefferson: (After seeing the WIll Ferrell-Matthew McConaughey intro): I loved Will Ferrell this was during the height of his comedy movie stardom too with Old School, Elf, Anchorman and Talladega Nights.

Jefferson: Looking back on it, Texas deferring was the first sign they were more than ready for this game.

Jefferson: (After a hit that would be targeting today) That hit would get a player suspended for life now. Take a receiver’s helmet off. No flag. Push a QB out of bounds. 15-yard unnecessary roughness.

12:29: Lendale White rushing touchdown gives USC a 7-0 lead

Jefferson: GAME OVER. KEEP FEEDING LENDALE, PETE CARROLL

Buhler: LenDale White is a beast! Keep chewing that gum, keep scoring points and keep messing with Texas, Pete!

Buhler: “Vince Young needs to play well for Texas to win” Way to go, Dan Fouts!

Jefferson: Texas offense looks lifeless after getting stuffed on fourth down. Everything going well for the Trojans.

2nd quarter: USC leads 7-0

Buhler (After Bush fumbles after a long run, trying to lateral to Brad Walker): WHAT IS HE DOING??? OH MY GOD THAT’S SO DUMB!!!!

Jefferson: If I ever am going to lateral the ball to anyone it would not be a player wearing the number 48

Schmidt: Reggie Bush should never take the ball out of his hands. Is this why he gave back the Heisman?!

Jefferson: You would think trying to tackle Bush would make USC defenders better prepared to face VY.

10:38: Texas field goal from David Pino gets the Longhorns on the board, 7-3

Buhler: With how dumb this game was to start, I’m surprised a college kicker made a FG.

Schmidt: This was before #collegekickers became a trend.

Schmidt (shaking his fist at a cloud): I can’t believe ESPN is still gonna make this a three-hour event. Come on man. Can’t we skip the commercials like on YouTube?

Buhler: (After Michael Griffin makes a circus interception): DUDE. He got that!

Jefferson: Throw the challenge flag Mack!!!!!

Buhler: (After Young laterals to Selvin Young for a go-ahead TD) They just trolled Reggie Bush!

Schmidt: His knee was down then and it’s down now. Shouldn’t have counted.

4:57: Texas takes 9-7 lead after the TD and missed PAT.

2:34: Ramonce Taylor rushes 30 yards for the touchdown. Texas leads 16-7

Buhler: Texas has the momentum heading into the half.

Jefferson: Vince Young nearly out-gaining the entire SC offense

Schmidt: After a shaky first quarter, it’s been all Texas since. USC’s defense isn’t making any plays.

Jefferson: Only took 29:20 for Pete Carroll to flex Bush out wide.

Schmidt: This is the first time Pete mismanaged a running back in a championship game. I don’t think it’ll be the last. Not even the last tonight.

:02: USC field goal from Mario Danelo makes it a 16-10 game. 

Buhler: That was a good kick. I respect it.

Jefferson: Always trust Pete Carroll’s decision making in tight games

Halftime: Texas leads 16-10

Schmidt: USC owned the first quarter but only put up seven points. If not for the Bush fumble, USC likely goes up 14-0. Instead, Texas gets their footing and Young got the short passing game working and the run game was cutting up the Trojans.

Buhler: Leinart looks like he’s playing tight. Young has been up-and-down, but I feel like he’s starting to play with confidence and has USC on their heels.

Jefferson: Young is putting the team on his back and saying he should be the real Heisman winner, not Bush. Leinart and Bush are not living up to the hype.

Third Quarter

10:36 Lendale White three-yard rushing touchdown gives USC the lead, 17-16.

Schmidt: We don’t remember Lendale for the beast he was and how important he was to the USC running game. Bush got all the hype and deservedly so, but White was so vital to their success.

Buhler: He led the NCAA in rushing touchdowns?! He’s gotta be one of USC’s most underrated players.

Schmidt: Sharing a backfield with two Heisman winners makes it tough to get more pub.

Buhler: I just got a little sad thinking about all the selfies that weren’t taken from the stands in this game. They would have been great!

Jefferson: Here comes VY. How did Jamaal Charles not get more touches though?!

Schmidt: Vince Young: Rose Bowl cheat code activated

Buhler: He’s in the zone right now

8:34: Vince Young 14-yard rushing touchdown gives Texas 23-17 lead.

Buhler: Wait. Jerry Rice was on Dancing with the Stars?!

Schmidt: Dude, he was the runner-up.

Jefferson: Steve Sarkisian sighting!

Schmidt: He’s gonna be a head coach in the near future.

Jefferson: Where’s Reggie at? He’s bottled up. I’m disappointed. Texas hasn’t let him loose since his lateral.

4:07: Lendale White’s third rushing touchdown of the game gives USC the lead back, 24-23.

Buhler: This quarter is awesome. Four lead changes now.

Jefferson: Leinart and Bush aren’t doing anything but White is carrying them.

Buhler: Why wasn’t Lendale better in the NFL?

Jefferson: White looks so massive but if he stood next to Derrick Henry he’d look like his pre-teen child.

Schmidt: These promos Keith is reading are killing me. What is Emily’s Reasons Why Not?! This was a real show starring Heather Graham.

Buhler: And what was Jake in Progress? And who is John STAH-mos. OMG!!!

Jefferson: I endorse anything with Heather Graham.

Schmidt: VY running in the open field must be terrifying for safeties and cornerbacks.

Buhler: If Vince was running at me, I’d just give up and curl up into a ball.

Jefferson: David Thomas looking like George Kittle or Travis Kelce.

https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/status/1245894038856892417

Fourth Quarter: USC leads 24-23

Schmidt: Buckle up. You know how it ends, but here’s how it goes down.

Buhler: College kickers, man

Jefferson: Let Vince kick the next one. HE DON’T MISS.

Schmidt: Missing a go-ahead chip-shot FG to start the fourth quarter is an ominous sign for Texas.

11:19: Reggie Bush rush for 26 yards for a touchdown, USC leads 31-23

Buhler: There’s Reggie!

Jefferson: Been waiting all night for this dude to show up.

Schmidt: Best running back I can remember seeing his entire career. Adrian Peterson might be second. Not old enough for the 80s holy trinity of Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson and Barry Sanders.

Jefferson: After three claps of Thunder, the Lightning has struck in Pasadena.

8:46: David Pino 34 yard field goal is good, Texas trails, 31-26

Jefferson: Big stop by USC to hold Texas to three.

Schmidt: Just gotta stop USC and they might have a shot.

Jefferson: Any points would likely put the stamp on the game for the Trojans.

Buhler: Horns have no answer for LenDale White.

Schmidt: Fullback sighting. Kids, those were jumbo running backs or short, slow tight ends who have been phased out of the game.

6:42: Matt Leinart to Dwayne Jarrett for a 22-yard touchdown, USC leads 38-26.

Buhler: Leinart looking like a Heisman winner. That should have been the dagger.

Jefferson: Put the kids to bed.

Buhler: Lights out.

Jefferson: People forget about Dwayne Jarrett.

Schmidt: He had 10 receptions for 121 yards and that touchdown. But USC won’t score again.

Schmidt: It’s about to get crazy.

Buhler: Is this the hurry-up offense in 2005?

Buhler: That should have been picked off.

Jefferson: I’m ready for the VY Show.

Buhler: David Thomas was born too soon. He’d be a legend in the NFL today.

Jefferson: Kudos to the Texas offensive line that drive.

Jefferson: AND THERE IS THE VY SHOW

Schmidt: That pump fake was unreal. He’s running so fast but it looks so slow.

Buhler: That was like some Steve Young magic there.

Jefferson: Barely touched on a play that was completely busted.

4:21: Vince Young rush for 17 yards for a touchdown, Texas trails 38-33

Schmidt: I just got mad at Jeff Fisher for not knowing how to develop VY with the Tennessee Titans.

Schmidt: Hey, there’s Craig James in an Easter Sunday suit!

Jefferson: Go for it, Pete!

Schmidt: 4th-and-2 coming up for USC. Reggie Bush is on the sideline. The biggest play of the year.

Buhler: Stuffed!

Buhler: How is Reggie not on the field? It’s one thing if you want to feed Lendale, but how is Reggie not on the field as a decoy?

Jefferson: WHY IS BUSH ON THE BENCH?!?!?!?!?!

Jefferson: Pete will never run the ball in an obvious running situation in a big game again.

Schmidt: The one time Lendale was stopped all night.

Buhler: This is how Texas wins (Uncut Gems meme)

Jefferson: 2 minutes left for Young to become a Longhorn Legend.

Schmidt: Facemask penalty results in a first down for Texas instead of third and long. Another missed opportunity from USC.

Jefferson: FUMBLE!

Schmidt: He’s down, but this is giving Texas a lot of time to catch their breath and figure out what to do in the final minute.

Schmidt: This is when I knew Texas was winning. USC couldn’t stop them all game. They kept cutting them up. Got the yards on the plays they needed. USC had no answer. Texas kept countering.

Jefferson: Trojans can’t touch Young whether he’s inside the pocket or outside of it

Schmidt: Are you guys ready? I mean, really ready? Here comes history.

4th-and-5 with 26 seconds left

Buhler: It all comes down to this.

Jefferson: I’ve seen this before.

Schmidt: National Championship on the line here.

“He’s going for the corner, he’s got it.” — Keith Jackson

“In-VINCE-able!” — Dan Fouts

:19: Vince Young runs in for an eight-yard touchdown, and Young runs in the 2-point conversion, Texas leads 41-38

Schmidt: I knew it was coming and I’m still stunned.  The greatest play in the greatest game.

Jefferson: W O W

Buhler: Pete burning a timeout because they weren’t ready for the 2-point try.

Schmidt: Classic Pete.

Buhler: This is why we should give the Heisman out AFTER the national championship. Strictly on this game alone.

Buhler: This is the best I’ve ever seen Texas football look. What happened?

Jefferson: They went away and haven’t come back.

https://twitter.com/VinceYoung10/status/1245920747781906433

Final: Texas wins 41-38

Parting Thoughts

The 2006 Rose Bowl box score is legendary. 267 passing yards and 200 rushing yards by Young, including the game-winning touchdown, his third of the night, with only 19 seconds to end the greatest modern dynasty at that point in college football.

https://twitter.com/TexasFootball/status/1245910539819192320

NFL Network did an episode of A Football Life on the 2006 Rose Bowl. If you haven’t seen it or you need to see it again, it’s a great retrospective on the best college football game of all time.

You can watch the 2006 Rose Bowl in the video below in case you missed the replay on ESPN (which had time constraints!) and want to follow along in real-time with our Gen Z writers.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.