2009 Rose Bowl

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez celebrates a touchdown against Penn State in the second quarter, when the Trojans scored 24 consecutive points to take control of the 95th Rose Bowl game Thursday.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC Coach Pete Carroll reacts after the Trojans intercepted a pass late in the Rose Bowl on Thursday to seal their 38-24 victory over Penn State.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Ronald Johnson puts the Trojans ahead, 38-14, on a 45-yard pass play from Mark Sanchez early in the fourth quarter Thursday against Penn State.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, who passed for 413 yards and four touchdowns, is all smiles along the sidelines during the fourth quarter Thursday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A.J. Wallace (1) and his Penn State teammates lament on the sideline after USC took a 38-14 lead early in the fourth quarter Thursday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC’s Will Harris (26) and Kaluka Maiava converge to make the tackle on Nittany Lions tight end Andrew Quarless during the fourth quarter Thursday.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Quarterback Mark Sanchez takes the lead with the Trojan sword following the Trojans’ 38-24 victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, selected offensive MVP, holds up the Rose Bowl trophy after the Trojans defeated Penn State, 38-24, on Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, the defensive MVP, celebrates the Trojans’ 38-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday in the 95th Rose Bowl game.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Confetti falls on USC fans after the Trojans defeated Penn State, 38-24, in the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC defensive end Clay Matthews sacks Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark in the third quarter Thursday.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC safety Taylor Mays causes Penn State’s Stephfon Green to fumble late in the second quarter Thursday, setting up the Trojans’ fifth and final scoring drive of the half.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Trojans defensive back Will Harris celebrates after recovering a fumble by Penn State’s Stephfon Green late in the second quarter Thursday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Jordan Campbell lets out a scream after the defense came up with a fumble recovery in the second quarter Thursday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Trojans defensive backs Kevin Thomas (background) and Taylor Mays (2) bring down Penn State’s Jordan Norwood in the third quarter.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Ronald Johnson scores on a 19-yard pass play late in the second quarter Thursday despite the defense of Penn State’s Anthony Scirrotto.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Trojans receiver Ronald Johnson celebrates his touchdown late in the second quarter that gave USC a comfortable 31-7 lead at halftime.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC’s Mark Sanchez acknowledges the crowd after scoring on a quarterback draw to give the Trojans a 14-7 lead over Penn State early in the second quarter of the 95th Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Damian Williams is brought down by the facemask by Penn State’s A.J. Wallace during the second quarter Thursday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Brian Cushing sacks Nittany Lions quarterback Daryll Clark in the second quarter Thursday.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Brian Cushing celebrates with teammates after making sacking Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark in the second quarter Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Trojans tailback C.J. Gable celebrates his second-quarter touchdown against Penn State on Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC teammate surround C.J. Gable after his touchdown run against Penn State in the second quarter Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC tailback Joe McKnight leaves Penn State defensive end Maurice Evans in his wake during a run in the second quarter Thursday.   (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez celebrates with offensive lineman Butch Lewis after a second-quarter touchdown against Penn State on Thursday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC tailback Stafon Johnson gets tripped up by Penn State’s Anthony Scirrotto after a big gain in the second quarter Thursday.   (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Damian Williams is stopped by Penn State’s Tony Davis, left, and Drew Astorino after a reception in the second quarter Thursday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC Coach Pete Carroll fires up receiver Damian Williams in the second quarter Thursday.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark shakes off a tackle attempt by USC safety Taylor Mays to score a touchdown and tie the score, 7-7, in the first quarter Thursday.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Damian Williams hauls in a 27-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring in the 95th Rose Bowl game Thursday against Penn State.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Damian Williams celebrates after making a 27-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC tailback Joe McKnight, who would later leave the game with an injury, is brought down by Penn State’s defense after a seven-yard gain in the first quarter.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC defensive back Will Harris brings down Penn State receiver Derrick Williams after an 11-yard gain in the first quarter Thursday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Damian Williams makes a reception past stumbling Penn State defensive back Lydell Sargeant during the second quarter Thursday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC tailback C.J. Gable runs through the tackle of Penn State’s Navorro Bowman for a nine-yard gain in the first quarter Thursday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava stretches for a deflected pass but came up short of an interception during the first quarter Thursday against Penn State.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC defensive backs Will Harris (26) and Taylor Mays (2) drag down Penn State’s Evan Royster in the first quarter Thursday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez completed 18 of 23 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the first half Thursday against Penn State.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Brian Cushing (10) and safety Taylor Mays (2) apply pressure to Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark during the first quarter Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC tailback Joe McKnight struggles for extra yardage as Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman hangs onto his leg during the first quarter Thursday.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC receiver Patrick Turner (1) and other Trojans pray before the start of the Rose Bowl game against Penn State on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A B2 stealth bomber makes a pass over the stadium before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC defensive back T.J. Bryant plays to the crowd as he gets pumped to play Penn State in the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC mascots Tommy Trojan and Traveler warm up at the Rose Bowl before the start of the 95th game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Cymbals bang as the Trojans marching band takes the field before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Penn State marching band makes its way onto the field before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game in Pasadena on Thursday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USC players cast shadows as they walk through the tunnel before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A fan enters the Rose Bowl before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Mia Seto, 21-months-old, shows her team colors before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

USC fans line the bridge over the players entrance to the stadium before the start of the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC linebacker Rey Maualuga makes his way to the locker room to prepare for the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno heads toward the locker room to prepare for the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Penn State fans snap photographs as the Nittany Lions arrive at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to prepare for the game Thursday.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

USC fans cheer as the Trojans take the field to warm up for the 95th Rose Bowl game on Thursday in Pasadena.  (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)