The 1963 Rose Bowl was the 49th edition of the annual college football bowl game held on January 1, 1963, at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The matchup featured the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans and the University of Wisconsin Badgers.
Teams
- USC Trojans – Representing the Pacific‑8 Conference, coached by John McKay. USC entered the game with a 10–0 record and was ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll.
- Wisconsin Badgers – Representing the Big Ten Conference, coached by Milt Bruhn. Wisconsin entered with an 8–1 record and was ranked No. 9 in the AP poll.
Game Summary
- Final Score: USC 42, Wisconsin 7.
- Scoring by Quarter
- 1st Quarter: USC 14, Wisconsin 0
- 2nd Quarter: USC 6, Wisconsin 7
- 3rd Quarter: USC 14, Wisconsin 0
- 4th Quarter: USC 8, Wisconsin 0
USC established a 20–7 lead at halftime and extended it to 42–7 by the end of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Pete Beathard threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, accounting for the majority of USC’s offense.
Key Performers
- Pete Beathard (USC quarterback) – Named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game.
- Mike Garrett (USC running back) – Contributed 75 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Attendance and Broadcast
- Attendance: 101,237 spectators.
- Television: The game was televised nationally by NBC, marking one of the early color broadcasts of the Rose Bowl.
Aftermath
The victory gave USC its first Rose Bowl win under head coach John McKay and solidified the Trojans’ claim to the 1962 national championship, as recognized by the AP poll released prior to the bowl. Wisconsin’s sole score came from a second‑quarter touchdown pass; the Badgers did not score again. The win contributed to the Pacific‑8’s dominance in the Rose Bowl during the early 1960s.
Historical Significance
- The 1963 game was part of a string of Rose Bowl appearances for both programs in the 1960s.
- It was the first Rose Bowl in which the winning quarterback received the Player of the Game award.
References
- Rose Bowl Game Archives, Rose Bowl Stadium.
- Associated Press (AP) Polls, 1962 season.
- NCAA Division I Football Records.
