USC 17 Ohio State 16
John Robinson makes his Rose Bowl total 3-0 and the West cuts the Big Ten lead to 18-16 since the pact began as USC (10-0-1) bumps Earl Bruce's Ohio State (11-0) out of a national championship with a comeback 17-16 victory. Trailing 16-10, USC gains possession on its 17 with 5:31 to play and drives to the winning touchdown by Charles White before the final gun. With Anthony Munoz returning from a season-long knee injury to open holes, White carries six times for 70 of the needed 83 yards in the drive, his final effort one previous yard. Eric Hipp then kicks the winning point. USC's earlier points come on a 41-yard Hipp field goal and a 53-yard touchdown pass from Paul McDonald to Kevin Williams. Helping the Trojan cause is a successful goal line stand led by Myron Lapka after an Art Schlichter to Gary Williams bomb puts the ball on the two. Earlier a 67-yard Schlichter to Williams touchdown bomb and three Vlade Janakievski field goals give Ohio State 16 points. White has a record 247 yards in 39 carries, an iron man extraordinary.