USC 28 Michigan 14

USC, top-ranked in the polls, but excluded from the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, handled No. 4-ranked Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl to claim the Associated Press National Championship. USC quarterback Matt Leinart accounted for four touchdowns and a punishing Trojan defense led to the victory. Leinart earned Most Outstanding Player honors by completing 23-of-34 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions against a Michigan defense ranked sixth in the nation against the pass. Leinart threw two touchdown passes to flanker Keary Colbert, who had six receptions for 149 yards, and one to tailback LenDale White to move USC out to a 21-0 lead early in the third quarter. Michigan quarterback John Navarre pulled the Wolverines within 21-7 with a third-quarter touchdown pass, but USC all but clinched it on a spectacular play that had Leinart catching a touchdown pass from All-America split end Mike Williams. A short touchdown run by Michigan All-America tailback Chris Perry accounted for the final 28-14 margin.

As large a hand as Leinart and his offensive mates had in the victory, it was USC's defensive line that was the dominant force in the game. The Trojans registered nine sacks for 69 yards in losses against a Michigan offensive front that had surrendered just 15 all season. All-America defensive end Kenechi Udeze led the way with three sacks. "You have to give the guys up front the credit for the havoc they created," Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said in citing USC's defensive front as the difference in the game. Trojan middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu had a game-high 12 tackles plus an interception. Despite all the sacks and the constant pressure, Navarre completed 27-of-46 passes for 271 yards and one touchdown.

Wolverine split end Brayton Edwards had 10 receptions for 107 yards.

BCS at 10: Best BCS bowl performances (ESPN) Finding Vince Young and Matt Leinart on a list of the 10 best performances in a BCS bowl is no surprise, but some of the other names on the list might be.

Michael Brown and Dimitri Mascarenhas guide Hampshire to victory (Times Online) The conditions that Chris Tremlett will encounter at Old Trafford on Friday, if he is selected for England, will be different from those at the Rose Bowl last night.

Hampshire v Worcestershire (Sporting Life) Gareth Batty led a spirit Worcestershire recovery after the first six wickets had fallen for a paltry 66 to the Hampshire pace attack at the Rose Bowl.

Batty Shines For Pears (CricketLine.com) Batty - turned things around. Gareth Batty led a spirited Worcestershire recovery after the first six wickets had fallen for a paltry 66 to the Hampshire pace attack at the Rose Bowl.

Surrey take charge at Rose Bowl (BBC News) Hampshire struggle to 204-7 in reply to Surrey's 278 on day two at the Rose Bowl.

(AFX UK Focus) 2008-05-21 15:45 THOMSON FINANCIAL NEWS TOP STORIES Macroeconomics 15:30 BST (Interactive Investor) 2008-05-21 15:05:55 NFL owners: Indianapolis to host 2012 Super Bowl

Regional Summary, Wednesday 5/21 (FOX 7 WTVW Evansville) --- Indianapolis To Host 2012 Super Bowl (Indianapolis) -- National Football League team owners have voted to make Indianapolis the host city for the 2012 Super Bowl.

NBA Bulls hit the jackpot (The Nashua Telegraph) The Chicago Bulls won the NBA's draft lottery Tuesday night, giving them the right to choose between star freshmen Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. Coming off a miserable season and still without a coach, the Bulls vaulted from the No. 9 spot, where they had just a 1. ...

Rose Bowl Development Gets Green Light (CricketLine.com) Rose Bowl - set for £45million development. Hampshire can press on with plans for the £45million development of the Rose Bowl, after receiving a final official go-ahead.

Make old-fashioned dessert without all the trappings (The Record Searchlight) The happy childhood goes like this: My mother unwraps the silver boxes of cream cheese as if they are presents. She beats the soft cheese -- the crack of eggs, a dust storm of sugar -- into pale snowbanks in the bowl while she lets me crush the graham crackers with a hammer.