UCLA Holds Off USC, Earns Trip to Rose Bowl
UCLA stopped the run, then won the run for the roses by cutting USC off at the pass.
Marvin Goodwin’s interception in the end zone in the final minute Saturday protected a 27-21 victory over USC before 93,458 at the Coliseum.
The Bruins (8-3) won the city championship and earned their first trip to the Rose Bowl in eight years.
The Trojans seemed on the verge of coming back from a 17-0 halftime deficit. They worked the ball to the five-yard line, where two running attempts were stopped. UCLA’s Goodwin then picked off the pass by quarterback Rob Johnson.
Johnson threw for 307 yards to become USC’s first 3,000-yard passer in a season, but the Bruins held the Trojans (7-5) to seven yards rushing.
UCLA must wait two weeks to find out its opponent on New Year’s Day. Ohio State’s unbeaten season was ruined by Michigan, 28-0, so Wisconsin can earn the Big Ten berth with a victory over Michigan State on Dec. 4 in Tokyo.
The scramble for the No. 1 ranking continued as Boston College upset top-ranked Notre Dame, 41-39, and West Virginia upset No. 4 Miami, 17-14.
Details in Sports. Related story, B1.
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