It’s time to rewrite much of the Rose Bowl record book after USC and Penn State combined for 101 points in the Trojans’ thrilling 52-49 win Monday.
Here’s a look at some of the records that fell and other top-10 performances:
Individual:
USC quarterback Sam Darnold’s five touchdown passes are a record (previous mark, four, by four players)
Darnold’s 473 yards in total offense is a record (previous mark, 467 by Vince Young of Texas vs. USC in 2006).
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Darnold’s five touchdowns responsible for tie a record shared by Neil Show of Michigan, vs. Stanford in 1902, and Young, vs. Michigan in 2005.
Darnold’s 30 points tied for most points responsible for (with Young, but not Snow, because touchdowns were apparently only worth five points in 1902 — who knew?).
Darnold’s 53 passes thrown are second most (behind Danny O’Neil of Oregon, 61, vs. Penn State in 1995).
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Darnold’s 33 completions tied for second most (with Ron Vander Kelen of Wisconsin, vs. USC in 1963; record is O’Neil, 41, in 1995).
Darnold’s 453 yards passing are second most (behind O’Neil, 456, in 1995).
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley’s 194 yards rushing tied for seventh most.
Barkley’s 79-yard touchdown run is seventh longest.
Penn Steve quarterback Trace McSorley’s four touchdown passes tied for second (behind Darnold’s five).
McSorley’s three interceptions tied for the most (with nine players).
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USC Trojans guard Damien Mama celebrates the Trojans’ win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans defensive back Adoree’ Jackson celebrates after the Trojans’ beat the Penn State Nittany Lions.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC head coach Clay Helton holds aloft the Leishman Trophy after the Trojans beat Penn State 52-49 in the Rose Bowl.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC kicker Matt Boermeester, 39, celebrates with holder Wyatt Schmidt after making a game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat Penn State 52-49 in the Rose Bowl Game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC placekicker Matt Boermeester, 39, celebrates with teammates after making a game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat Penn State 52-49. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans place kicker Matt Boermeester celebrates with teammates after kicking the game winning field goal/ (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s kicker Matt Boermeester kick the winning field goal against Penn State.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State’s Jordan Smith is called for pass interference on USC receiver Deontay Burnett late in the 4th quarter/
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC quarterback Sam Darnold wiggles away from Penn State linebacker Jason Kabinda during fourth quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC defensive back Leon McQuay steps in front of Penn State receiver Chris Goodwin for an interception in the last minute of the game, setting up a winning drive.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s Leon McQuay intercepts the ball in front of Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin late in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC strong safety Leon McQuay ntercepts a pass intended for Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC strong safety Leon McQuay III returns an interception of a pass intended for Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin in the fourth quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s Deontay Burnett catches a touchdown pass late in the 4th quarter as Penn St.’s Marcus Allen looks on at the Rose Bowl Monday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Deontay Burnett hauls in a touchdown pass over Penn State safety Marcus Allen for the game tying score late in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC wide receiver Deontay Burnett makes a touchdown catch against Penn State in the fourth quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Deontay Burnett, left, and quarterback Sam Darnold celebrate the game-tying touchdown against Penn St. late in the 4th qaurter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC head coach Clay Helton cheers his team on against Penn State in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The USC defense celebrates as Penn State’s running back Saquon Barkley is stopped on 3rd down late in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans tight end Taylor McNamara (48) is congratulated by Teammates after catching a two-point conversion from USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold in the second half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster celebrates with teammates after making a touchdown catch against Penn State in the third quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times )
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USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a touchdown pass from USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold in the third quarter/
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin takes the ball away from USC defensive back Iman Marshall en route to a touchdown in the third quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC quarterback Sam Darnold throws downfield against Penn State in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 2. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Adoree Jackson writhes in pain as he is tackled by Penn State cornerback Christian Campbell during fourth quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Injured USC defensive back Adoree Jackson is helped off the firld in the third quarter as coach Clay Helton looks on.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC quarterback Sam Darnold loses control of the ball as he is sacked by Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels during third quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC linebacker Uchenna Nwosu tries to fire up the crowd in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC running back Chris Hawkins scores a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, leading to a 49-49 tie with Penn State.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s Ronald Jones is lifted into the air after scoring a touchdown against Penn St. at the Rose Bowl Monday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hauls in a long pass over Penn State cornerback John Reid during a fourth quarter drive. The play was originally called incomplete, but replay showed Schuster made the catch in bounds.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State cornerback Christian Campbell breaks up a pass intended for USC wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster in the third quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin makes a catch in front of USC’s Leon McQuay in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (96) tackles Penn State Nittany Lions running back Mark Allen (8) in the second half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State safety Malik Golden upends USC receiver Adoree Jackson in the third quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s Sam Darnold celebrates his touchdown throw to Deontay Burnett against Penn St. in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn St. tight end Mike Gesicki catches a touchdown pass in front of USC’s Adoree Jackson, left, and Leon McQuay in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans running back Justin Davis dives for a first down before being tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Brandon Bell in first half action.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley scores a touchdown while pursued by USC Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith (35) in the first half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Mike Gesicki celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the first half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State receiver Chris Godwin flips out of the endzone after catching a touchdown pass over USC defensive back Adoree Jackson during second quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Darreus Rogers makes a diving catch in front of Penn State defensive back Grant Haley during a second quarter drive.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC quarterback Sam Darnold scrambles for big yards late in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC’s Stevie Tu’ikolowafu grabs the face mask of Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley for a penalty during the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold eludes Penn State’s cornerback John Reid (29) in the first half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin makes a diving catch in front of USC’s Adoree Jackson in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn St. receiver Chris Godwin makes a catch in front of USC’s Leon McQuay in the 2nd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC quarterback Sam Darnold scrambles for big yards late in the 2nd quarter against Penn St.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC wide receiver Adoree Jackson makes his way inside the Penn State five-yard-line after a catch in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin makes a one-handed catch against USC strong safety Leon McQuay in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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USC head coach Clay Helton reacts angrily after officials mistakenly nullified a touchdopwn catch by Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley eludes the tackle of USC end Porter Gustin in first quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold throws a touchdown pass to USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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USC receiver Darreus Rogers catches a touchdown pass in front of Penn St.’s Grant Haley in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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USC defensive back Adoree Jackson celebrates with teammate Iman Marshall after intercepting a Penn State pass in the first quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Nittany Lion waits the tunnel before the start of the 2017 Rose Bowl Game.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Bryce Rogers, left, and Norma Lopez, of Montrose, CA, attends her first Rose Bowl Game.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State students Sophie Randall, Audrey Zavada, and Kait Yoniske, have their photo taken as they enter the stadium.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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The “Spirit of Troy,” USC Marching Band arrives at the Rose Bowl, hours before the Trojans and the Penn State Nittany Lions play in the Rose Bowl game.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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USC football fans cheer for their Trojans team before the start of the 103rd Rose Bowl game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in Pasadena on Monday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Penn State football fans cheer for the Nittany Lions before the start of the 103rd Rose Bowl game against the USC Trojans in Pasadena on Monday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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McSorley’s 72-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin is tied for third longest.
USC receiver Deontay Burnett’s 13 receptions are second most (behind J.J. Stokes of UCLA, 14 vs. Wisconsin in 1994).
Burnett’s three touchdowns tied a record (with Braylon Edwards of Michigan, vs. Texas in 2005).
Burnett’s 187 yards receiving are fourth most.
USC kicker Matt Boermeester’s three field goals tied a record shared by five others.
Team:
USC’s 453 yards passing are second most behind Oregon, which had 456 vs. Penn State in 1995.
USC’s 575 total yards are fourth most.
USC and Penn State combined for 101 points, surpassing the previous record of 83 set by Oregon. and Wisconsin in the Ducks’ 45-38 victory in 2012.
Penn State’s 49 points established a record for a losing team.
Penn State’s 28 points in the third quarter are the most scored by a team in one quarter.
USC’s 52 points in the game are second most behind Oregon, 59, vs. Florida State in 2015.
Mike Hiserman is former Sports editor of the Los Angeles Times. He wrote for the Long Beach Press Telegram and Orange County Register before joining The Times in 1982 and won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for investigative reporting on betting scams. Hiserman has been Sports editor of The Times’ San Fernando Valley and Orange County editions. He retired in November 2020.
