Jan. 4, 2005, Pro Player Stadium
USC 55, Oklahoma 19
MIAMI -- Matt Leinart and his Southern California teammates bounced around the end zone, then broke into a victory dance.
The celebration was on -- and it was only halftime.
Playing to perfection, the Heisman Trophy winner threw a record five touchdown passes and the Trojans overwhelmed Oklahoma 55-19 Tuesday night in the Orange Bowl, ending the season just as they started: No. 1.
The much-anticipated battle of unbeatens, No. 1 vs. No. 2, turned into a coronation for USC, which had to settle for a share of the national championship last year after being left out of the Bowl Championship Series title game.
USC became the first team to repeat as AP national champions since Nebraska in 1994-95 and joined Florida State in 1999 as the only teams to go wire-to-wire -- from preseason to post bowls -- as No. 1.
With the aid of four Oklahoma turnovers, the Trojans (13-0) ambushed the Sooners (12-1) with 38 points in the final 20 minutes of the first half.
The first meeting of Heisman winners couldn't have been more one-sided. Leinart set an Orange Bowl record with his five scoring tosses and Jason White spent another BCS title game running for his life.
Oklahoma's 2003 Heisman winner finished 24-of-36 for 244 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns.
Leinart was 18-of-35 for 332 yards and he had the USC band playing "Fight On" all night. The laid-back Californian who replaced Carson Palmer became the first Heisman winner to win a national title since Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997.
Leinart looked nothing like the overrated quarterback for an average offense, as Oklahoma defensive end Larry Birdine described him.
Leinart tossed four scores in the first half as the Trojans turned an early 7-0 deficit into a 38-10 halftime lead.
And when the demolition had ended, the Trojans grooved in the end zone as Outkast's "Hey Ya!" blared through Pro Player Stadium. Meanwhile, the Sooners trudged off having already allowed more points in a bowl game than any team in school history.
The Trojans reached a season high for points and turned the game into a USC highlight reel, with Leinart making pinpoint passes and his receivers making spectacular catches.
Steve Smith caught an Orange Bowl-record three touchdowns, LenDale White ran for 118 yards and two scores and the USC's defense smothered Oklahoma's freshman sensation Adrian Peterson.
Peterson, the Heisman runner-up to Leinart, managed just 82 yards on 25 carries.
Senior Mark Bradley made a freshman mistake that set off one of those USC runs that have done in so many opponents during the Trojans' 22-game winning streak.
The Sooners' most versatile player and the son of former Oklahoma quarterback Danny Bradley tried to scoop up a punt that had bounced inside the Oklahoma 5. Collin Ashton grabbed on to Bradley, the ball squirted away and USC recovered at the 6.
Bradley trudged back to the sideline, where he received some pats on the head and back.
His mood no doubt worsened on the next play, when LenDale White reached the ball over the goal line to give the Trojans a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
USC made it 21 straight points with the help of Oklahoma's second turnover. Under pressure, Jason White heaved a deep ball into quadruple-coverage and Jason Leach came up with USC's 20th interception of the season.
|
Score by Quarters |
|
USC |
14 |
24 |
10 |
7 |
55 |
|
Oklahoma |
7 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
19 |
|
|
USC |
Oklahoma |
|
First Downs |
19 |
19 |
|
Rushing Yards |
193 |
128 |
|
Passes Attempted |
35 |
36 |
|
Passes Completed |
18 |
22 |
|
Had Intercepted |
0 |
3 |
|
Passing Yards |
332 |
224 |
|
Punting/Avg |
4/43.5 |
4/44.5 |
|
Fumbles/Lost |
1/0 |
3/2 |
|
Penalties/Yards |
9/75 |
3/30 |
Scoring Summary:
OU: Wilson 5 yd pass from White (Hartley kick); USC: Byrd 33 yd pass from Leinart (Killeen kick); USC: White 6 yd run (Killeen kick); USC: Jarrett 54 yd pass from Leinart (Killeen kick); USC: Smith 5 yd pass from Leinart (Killeen kick); OU: Hartley 29 yd field goal; USC: Smith 33 yd pass from Leinart (Killeen kick); USC: Killeen 44 yd field goal; USC: Smith 4 yd pass from Leinart (Killeen kick); USC: Killeen 42 yd field goal; USC: White 8 yd run (Killeen kick); OU: Safety; OU: Wilson 9 yd pass from White (Hartley kick)
MOP: Matt Leinart (USC)