A USC fan shows his colors during pregame festivities at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
Longhorn fan Zack Balkin rallies with fellow fans from a trucktop. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
Parachutists float down from the sky before the national championship game at the Rose Bowl. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
USC student Mark Austin channels his inner Trojan. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
USC fans swarm the team buses as they arrive for the championship game. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
USC players take the field before the championship game. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Aaron Ross of the Texas Longhorns fumbles on the first punt return of the game as he is hit by Trojan safety Scott Ware. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Aaron Ross of Texas fumbles at midfield. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
USC players celebrate after recovering a fumble early in the game. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
USC running back LenDale White scores the first touchdown of the game on a four-yard run against the Texas Longhorns. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
USC’s LenDale White heads for the end zone. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
Heisman winner Reggie Bush, left, and LenDale White celebrate White’s touchdown, which put the Trojans up 7-0 in the first quarter. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)
USC’s David Kirtman hauls in a 24-yard pass from quarterback Matt Leinart during the first quarter. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC tailback Reggie Bush heads upfield during the first quarter. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Selvin Young of the Longhorns is tackled by a swarm of Trojans. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)
USC’s Reggie Bush tries to lateral the ball to Brad Walker, resulting in a fumble in second-quarter action. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
The Texas defense stops USC’s LenDale White on 4th and 2 late in the second quarter. (Lori Shepler / LAT)
Longhorns quarterback Vince Young laterals to Selvin Young to score the team’s first touchdown of the game. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
Running back Ramonce Taylor crosses the goal line to cap a 30-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, giving Texas a 16-7 lead over USC. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
USC safety Scott Ware celebrates after forcing a fumble in the first quarter. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC tailback Reggie Bush tries to break free from Texas defensive end Tim Crowder during the first quarter. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)
USC’s Brandon Ting tries to wrap up Texas quarterback Vince Young. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)
USC’s Mario Danelo kicks a field goal in second-quarter action. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)
Texas cornerback Tarell Brown chases down USC quarterback Matt Leinart during the second quarter. (GIna Ferazzi / LAT)
Texas quarterback Vince Young laterals the ball to Selvin Young for a touchdown in the second quarter. (GIna Ferazzi / LAT)
Texas quarterback Vince Young is sacked in second-quarter action. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Michael Griffin of the Longhorns intercepts the ball on USC’s goal line during the second quarter. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC’s Reggie Bush is dejected after fumbling in second-quarter action against Texas at the Rose Bowl. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett is upended by a Longhorn defender. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC quarterback Matt Leinart recovers from a hard tackle after a 14-yard gain in the second quarter. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC offensive tackle Sam Baker takes down Texas linebacker Robert Killebrew as Matt Leinart looks for an open receiver. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC’s LenDale White goes into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game for the Trojans. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
USC running back LenDale White scores his third touchdown against the Longhorns. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
Texas quarterback Vince Young goes over USC’s Josh Pinkard to score a third-quarter touchdown for the Longhorns. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
USC’s LenDale White scores his third touchdown of the game. (Lori Shepler / LAT)
USC’s Reggie Bush scores in fourth-quarter action against Texas. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
USC tight end Dominique Byrd takes down Texas Longhorn Michael Huff after hauling in a pass in the third quarter. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Texas quarterback Vince Young picks yardage during a third quarter run. (Alexander Gallardo / LAT)
Texas quarterback Vince Young is tackled after a long run in third quarter action against USC. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
USC tight end Dominique Byrd hauls in a pass from Matt Leinart in the third quarter. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
Texas Longhorn quarterback Vince Young scores the winning touch down at the end of the fourth quarter. (Lori Shepler / LAT)
On a controversial play, Texas quarterback Vince Young rushed for 11 yards then lateraled to Selvin Young who scored a touchdown. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
Texas Longhorn Vince Young reflects on winning the national championship game. (Allen J. Schaben / LAT)
USC Quarterback Matt Leinart walks off the field while Texas Longhorns celebrate following their victory. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
A dejected Reggie Bush walks off the field after Texas defeated USC to win the national championship. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Texas coach Mack Brown celebrates with Vince Young, middle, and Michael Huff after winning the national championship. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
Texas quarterback Vince Young and head coach Mack Brown celebrate after defeating USC. (Robert Gauthier / LAT)
