1980 - 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.
1981 - Michigan 23 Washington 6
Bo Schembechler has only a 9-2 team when he arrives in Pasadena but he says "this one knows how to win the big one." He is correct as he bags his first Rose Bowl victory in six tries, a convincing 23-6 triumph over Don James' 9-2 Washington Huskies. Durable Butch Woolfolk runs the pigskin 182 yards in 26 carries and speedy Anthony Carter catches five passes for 68 yards and gains 33 yards more on four key pitchout plays as Michigan dominates in the second half. Quarterback John Wangler breaks open a 7-6 duel by "going to" Carter's skills and speed. The Huskies blow first half scoring chances when they gain 269 yards without getting a touchdown, the most painful turnover being a fumble by potent Toussaint Tyler while trying to cross the goal line. Chuck Nelson does manage to get two field goals for the Huskies.
1982 - Washington 28 Iowa 0
Don James comes right back with a 9-2 Washington team that wipes out Hayden Fry's 8-3 Iowa Hawkeyes 28-0. James' big gun is a freshman named Jacque Robinson who gains 142 yards in 20 carries and sets up or scores three of the Huskies' four touchdowns. Quarterback Steve Pelluer is 15 for 29 passing, end Paul Skansi has four big catches and Mark Jerue makes 13 tackles as linebacker.
1983 - UCLA 24 Michigan 14
Terry Donahue starts a three-time victory streak in the Rose Bowl with his 9-1-1 UCLA Bruins who make Bo Schembechler's one-game winning streak short lived. Michigan, 8-3, falls 24-14 as three interceptions and one fumble stop two Wolverine possessions inside the 20 and lead directly to 10 UCLA points. Tom Ramsey completes 18 of 25 passes, six straight in a 79-yard drive, to take a 7-0 lead that becomes 10-0 after an interception and a John Lee field goal. Michigan loses quarterback Steve Smith on injury, but Dave Hall, his successor, passes to Eddie Garrett for a touchdown before UCLA breaks Michigan's back with an 80-yard drive culminating with Danny Andrews' touchdown sweep of nine yards. All is academic after that.
1984 - UCLA 45 Illinois 9
Because of its 10-1 record, Mike White's Illinois team is favored over Terry Donahue's mere 6-4-1 UCLA, but the Bruins romp to a convincing 45-9 victory. The Pac-10 win ties the series with the Big Ten at 19-19. It is a Rick Neuheisel show as the UCLA quarterback completes 22 of 31 passes, four for touchdowns, no interceptions. Flanker Karl Dorrell catches two touchdown passes. Bryan Wiley returns an interception 53 yards to score. Safety Don Rogers has two interceptions. Illinois cuts UCLA's early lead to 7-3 when Coach White's son, Chris, kicks a 41-yard field goal.
| 
