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rose bowletin THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL • JANUARY 2, 2017 • 2:10 P.M.

Bowletin Insider

USC vs. Penn State page 1

Rose Bowl Matchup page 2 The No. 5 CFP-ranked , Champion of the , and the No. 9 CFP-ranked USC Trojans, have earned berths to play in the Rose presented by Northwestern Mutual at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET), Monday, January 2, 2017, at the Stadium. Weekly Polls page 3 “The Tournament of Roses is thrilled to host Penn State and USC at this year’s ,” said Rose Bowl Management Committee chairperson Scott Jenkins. “The CFP Selection Committee had a tough decision to make today but we applaud their rankings and we look forward to an exciting Bowl Calender matchup between the Nittany Lions and the Trojans on January 2. We are excited to welcome the page 4 teams and the fans from both schools to the Granddaddy of Them All.”

Penn State and USC have met twice in the Rose Bowl Game, including both of their most appearances Bowl Schedule in 2009. In that game, the No. 5 Trojans defeated the No. 6 Nittany Lions, 38-24, behind a four page 5 and 413-yard performance from USC’s . The only other meeting between these two teams was back in 1923, the first game played at the Rose Bowl Stadium. USC also won that meeting, 14-3, but it is known because the game started 50 minutes late because PSU was stuck in traffic. Weekly News page 6 Penn State won its fourth Big Ten Championship after a comeback victory over Wisconsin, 38-31, to finish the season 11-2 overall and 8-1 in conference play. The Nittany Lions will make their fourth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game, with their last appearance in the Granddaddy of the All in 2009. The Big Ten & Pac-12 Their overall record in the Rose Bowl Game is 1-2, with their lone victory in the 1995 Rose Bowl page 7 Game against the .

USC finished the season 9-3 overall record and a 7-2 mark in conference. The Trojans will make their 33rd Rose Bowl Game appearance on January 2, the most appearances by any school in the history of the game. Their last appearance in the game was in 2009 against Penn State and finished a stretch during which the Trojans played in four straight Rose Bowl Games and five in six years. They hold a 24-8 overall record in their Rose Bowl Game appearances.

Pre-game festivities on January 2, will begin at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET). The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

1 Rose Bowl Game Matchup

The Penn State Nittany Lions come into the Rose Bowl Game riding The USC Trojans came into the season as one of the most popular a nine-game winning streak and fresh off a come-from-behind victory “sleeper” picks to make the Playoff. The Trojans, over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. under first year head coach Clay Helton, appeared to have the right mix of talent and moxie to get back to the Trojans of the first decade of the The Nittany Lions lost to Michigan in Ann Arbor on September 24 to 2000’s. Those playoff aspirations seemed to disappear after the 52-6 loss fall to 2-2 on the season. An overtime victory against Minnesota the to Alabama, then were pushed further away when the Trojans lost to following week helped jump start Penn State and put the Nittany Lions Stanford and Utah to open the Pac-12 schedule. back on the winning path, a path they haven’t strayed from since. The loss at Utah, however, showed the potential of the Trojans and their PSU’s offense starts with Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon new starting , redshirt freshman . USC turned Barkley. The sophomore running back led the conference in total yards over the reigns to the Capistrano Beach rookie for the game against the with 1,666 and finished second rushing yards with 1,302. Barkley, Utes and he played well in his first collegiate action. a Coplay, Pennsylvania native, led the Big Ten with 19 scored, 16 of which were on the ground. The whole offense seemed to get in gear with Darnold under center. The passing game improved by almost 80 yards per game and the The surprise of the year for Penn State has been the emergence of rushing yardage per game nearly doubled from 120 to 236 yards per quarterback Trace McSorley. McSorley had to battle for the starting job game. Darnold put together the first ever back-to-back five touchdown in spring ball and fall camp before not only emerging as the starter, but performances in school history against Arizona and Cal. as one of the best in the Big Ten. The Ashburn, Virginia product led the conference in passing efficiency and tied for the lead The improvement in the rushing game came with a change at the tailback with 25 touchdown passes, compared to just five . McSorley position as well. Senior Justin Davis started the season as the starter added 352 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground, and in the process set and was averaging nearly 100 yards a game before an injury forced the new Penn State record for total scrimmage yards in a season. sophomores Ronald Jones and Aca’Cedric Ware into increased roles. Both players responded well, and Jones surpassed the 1,000 yard mark The Nittany Lions boast one of the best deep passing games in the on the ground by going for more than 100 yards per game in four of the country, spearheaded by 6-6 junior tight end Mike Gesicki and stable of final five games of the year. tall and quick receivers. Junior Chris Godwin led the team with 50 catches during the regular season and caught a team-high nine touchdowns. On the outside, USC has always had dangerous weapons and this year is no different. Junior JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of the highest rated Defensively, one thing jumps off the page for Penn State: aggressiveness. receivers in all of college football and is expected to be a high draft pick The Nittany Lions ranked in the middle of the Big Ten in passing and when he decides to go in that direction. Sophomore Deontay Burnett and rushing defense, but PSU was second in sacks with 39 on the year and senior Darreus Rogers also have skills that keep defenses from focusing third in team tackles for loss, averaging almost nine per game. on Smith-Schuster.

Safety Marcus Allen leads the team with 101 tackles, but the heart of Defensively, the Trojans are led by Thorpe Award-winner Adoree’ the defense at “Linebacker U” are senior linebacker Brandon Bell and Jackson, named the best defensive back in college football. Linebacker junior linebacker Jason Cabinda. Despite missing nine games this year Cameron Smith leads the team in tackles with 79, while sophomore between the two of them, Bell and Cabinda finished second and third, defensive lineman Porter Gustin (12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) and respectively, on the team in tackles. With teams focusing on the two Rasheem Green (5.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks) have had strong seasons linebackers, defensive ends Garrett Sickels and Evan Schwan have up front. taken advantage on the edges and lead the teams with six sacks each. One of the most exciting aspects of USC games this year have been in the return game when Jackson gets the ball. The Thorpe winner has four total return TD’s this season and averages more than 30 yards per kick return and 15 yards per punt return. Rose Bowl Game Weekly Polls Matchup Bowl Week

College Football Playoff USA TODAY The final rankings before the end of the season are here and the 1. Alabama 1. Alabama (61) 1. Alabama (63) final four are set. They didn’t come without debate, however, 2. Clemson 2. Ohio State 2. Ohio State as Ohio State remained in the top-four despite not playing in 3. Ohio State 3. Clemson 3. Clemson the Big Ten Championship Game, while B1G Champ Penn 4. Washington 4. Washington 4. Washington 5. Penn State 5. Penn State 5. Penn State State finished at No. 5 and will be playing in the Rose Bowl 6. Michigan 6. Michigan 6. Michigan Game. USC, the other team in the 103rd Rose Bowl Game, 7. Oklahoma 7. Oklahoma 7. Oklahoma jumped Colorado, who fell to Washington in the Pac-12 8. Wisconsin 8. Wisconsin 8. Wisconsin Championship Game. Otherwise, Championship week went 9. USC 9. USC 9. USC with chalk as Alabama and Clemson earned victories to secure 10. Colorado 10. Florida State 10. Florida State their top-four ranking. 11. Florida State 11. Colorado 11. Colorado 12. Oklahoma State 12. Western Michigan 12. West Virginia The rankings are selected by a 12-person 13. Louisville 13. Oklahoma State 13. Oklahoma State committee of current athletic directors, former college football 14. Auburn 14. West Virginia 14. Western Michigan coaches, a former Secretary of State, and a current media member. 15. Western Michigan 15. Louisville 15. Louisville The committee will issue its first rankings Tuesday, November 1, with 16. West Virginia 16. Stanford 16. Stanford subsequent rankings taking place the next five weeks. 17. Florida 17. Auburn 17. Auburn 18. Stanford 18. Virginia Tech 18. Florida 19. Utah 19. LSU 19. Virginia Tech The Associated Press Poll is made up of a panel of 61 sports writers 20. LSU 20. Florida 20. LSU and broadcasters from around the country. 21. Tennessee 21. Iowa 21. Nebraska 22. Virginia Tech 22. Pittsburgh 22. South Florida The USA Today Poll is also known as the Coaches Poll and is selected 23. Pittsburgh 23. Temple 23. Utah by the Amway Board of Coaches, made up of 64 head coaches at 24. Temple 24. Nebraska 24. Temple Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the 25. Navy 25. South Florida 25. Iowa Coaches Association.

Other Major Bowl Game Matchups

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4 Bowl Schedule

(All times listed below are PT and subject to change)

Saturday, December 17 Wednesday, December 28 : New Mexico vs. UTSA, 11 am, ESPN : Northwestern vs. Pittsburgh, 11 am, ESPN : Houston vs. State, 12:30 pm, ABC Russell Athletic Bowl: vs. West Virginia, 2:30 pm, ESPN Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Toledo, 2:30 pm, ESPN San Francisco Bowl: vs. Utah, 5:30 pm, FOX : Arkansas State vs. UCF, 2:30 pm, CBSSN : Kansas State vs. Texas A&M, 6 pm, ESPN : La. Lafayette vs. Southern Miss, 6 pm, ESPN Thursday, December 29 Monday, December 19 : South Carolina vs. South Florida, 11 am, ESPN : Central Michigan vs. Tulsa, 11:30 am, ESPN Belk Bowl: Arkansas vs. Virginia Tech, 2:30 pm, ESPN : Colorado vs. Oklahoma State, 6 pm, ESPN Tuesday, December 20 Boca Bowl: Memphis vs. Western Kentucky, 4 pm, ESPN Friday, December 30 : Georgia vs. TCU, 9 am, ESPN Wednesday, December 21 : North Carolina vs. Stanford, 11 am, CBS Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. Wyoming, 6 pm, ESPN : Nebraska vs. Tennessee, 12:30 pm, ESPN : Florida State vs. Michigan, 5 pm, ESPN Thursday, December 22 Idaho Potato Bowl: Colorado State vs. Idaho, 4 pm, ESPN Saturday, December 31 : Louisville vs. LSU, 8 am, ABC Friday, December 23 : Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky, 8 am, ESPN : East. Michigan vs. Old Dominion, 10 am, ESPN : Alabama vs. Washington, 12 pm, ESPN : Louisiana Tech vs. Navy, 1:30 pm, ESPN : Clemson vs. Ohio State, 4 pm, ESPN Dollar General Bowl: Ohio vs. Troy, 5 pm, ESPN Monday, January, 2 Saturday, December 24 : Florida vs. Iowa, 10 am, ABC : Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee, 5 pm, ESPN : Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin, 10 am, ESPN Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. USC, 2 pm, ESPN Monday, December 26 : Auburn vs. Oklahoma, 5:30 pm, ESPN St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami Ohio vs. Miss. State, 8 am, ESPN : Boston College vs. Maryland, 11:30 am, ESPN Monday, January, 9 : NC State vs. Vanderbilt, 2 pm, ESPN2 CFP Championship, 5:30 pm, ESPN

Tuesday, December 27 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army vs. North Texas, 11 am, ESPN : Temple vs. Wake Forest, 12:30 pm, ESPN : Minnesota vs. Washington State, 4 pm, ESPN Cactus Bowl: Baylor vs. Boise State, 7:15 pm, ESPN

5 Weekly News

Bowls

One storyline for all 10 Big Ten bowls B By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com I Every game has a storyline, right? So what are they for the 10 Big Ten bowl teams? G http://btn.com/2016/12/05/dienhart-one-storyline-for-all-10-big-ten-bowls/ Jim Harbaugh campaigns for FSU pregame traditions at the Orange Bowl T By Wayne E McGahee III, USATODAY Sports

E Before every Florida State home game, Chief Osceola and Renegade ride out with a flaming spear, which Osceola plants at mid- N field. http://www.usatoday.com/story/nolesports/fsu/2016/12/07/jim-harbaugh-campaigns-florida-state-pregame-traditions-orange-bowl/95110826/

P College Hotline: Pac-12 bowl bids special edition By Jon Wilner, The Mercury News A Selection day played out with no twists or turns and only one hefty dose of frustration C http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/05/college-hotline-pac-12-bowl-bids-special-edition-best-and-worst-from-selection-day/ - ready to bring ‘enthusiasm unknown to mankind’ to Ducks 1 By Chantel Jennings, ESPN 2 New Oregon coach Willie Taggart on Thursday said the Ducks are at a place where they can win a national championship. http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18238202/willie-taggart-introduced-head-coach-oregon-ducks

N Here are your 2016 college football award winners A By Zack Pierce, FoxSports College football dished out most of its major awards Thursday night, with the set to follow on Saturday. Take a look T at the big winners. I http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/gallery/2016-college-football-award-winners-120816 O Making the case for non-conference tournaments in college football N By Mitch Goldich, SI.com A This is an argument I made almost five years ago, which still holds up. It stands whether there is a BCS championship, a four-team playoff, or even if the field expands to six, eight or 16. L http://www.si.com/college-football/2016/12/09/college-football-playoff-non-conference-tournaments?xid=socialflow_twitter_sicr

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