It’s the Game of the Century. The question is, which century?
Certainly it qualifies for the 21st. No teams in the previous four years possessed the firepower and domination that top-ranked Southern California and No. 2 Texas, both 12-0, have when they meet in the Rose Bowl for the national championship Jan. 4. In fact, it’s only the third time since the Bowl Championship Series began in 1998 that the only two unbeaten teams left in the country have met.
Ohio State and Miami in 2002? Please. Ohio State’s scoring that year was barely half what USC and Texas disgorge every Saturday. Virginia Tech and Florida State in 1999? Can you name three offensive players for either team that year?
Thank you.
When the BCS made it official Sunday and placed USC and Texas in the title game, the only controversy left for a change was which bowl game ever had such a great matchup, 20th century included. USC, seeking an unprecedented third straight national title, is a 6 1/2-point favorite, which suggests a potential rout – and so do most of the Trojans’ scores in their 34-game win streak.
“We’re sitting here at 19 straight wins and they’ve done it for three straight years,” Texas coach Mack Brown said Sunday. “That’s just phenomenal. When I showed up at Texas, they told me Darrell Royal won 30 straight. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
But Texas has more balance on both sides of the ball than USC, giving the story lines spilling into the Rose Bowl 30 days from now more intrigue than any dramas being filmed down the road in Hollywood. Feast your imagination on these matchups:
Texas defense
vs. Reggie Bush
If the Longhorns want to give props to their quarterback, Vince Young, they can take some glitter off Reggie Bush’s expected Heisman Trophy by shutting … no, slowing … no, at least, making him work for his yards. Few have. He leads the nation in all-purpose yards (217.58 yards per game) and with 8.9 yards a carry. In his past two games, he has rushed for 554 yards and four touchdowns.
Texas could. Its defense is sixth nationally (280.33) and warmed up Saturday by holding Colorado to 191 yards and only three points.
“As I left the stadium (Saturday),” Brown said, “the first thing I heard was, ‘Don’t get too excited. Reggie Bush has 175 yards rushing in the first quarter.’ That’s a good way to take time, a deep breath and enjoy a victory.”
USC defense
vs. Vince Young
The Trojans have faced only one quarterback who is a true dual threat: Washington’s Isaiah Stanback. USC sacked him five times, but he is no Young, who led the Longhorns in rushing (70.8) and the nation in pass efficiency (168.6).
The Trojans’ defense had 2 1/2 bad games. It fell behind Arizona State, 21-3 at halftime, and Notre Dame and Fresno State moved the ball at will. A hamstring has bothered linebacker Keith Rivers, so freshman Brian Cushing started against UCLA on Saturday.
However, these are Pete Carroll’s recruits we’re talking about. USC’s defense leads the country in turnover margin (plus-1.83) and is second in the Pacific 10 in rush defense (117.3).
Texas secondary
vs. Matt Leinart
In the preseason, The Sporting News ranked Texas’ secondary No. 1 in the nation. Guess you can believe what you read. Texas is second nationally in pass efficiency defense (91.34).
But the Big 12 has no one like Matt Leinart, whose 3,450 yards topped last year’s total when he won the Heisman. When has Texas, or any team, been able to shut down a quarterback with the flash-and-smash running combo of a Bush and LenDale White at the same time?
USC’s 34-game streak
vs. Texas’ 19-game streak
Take out the overtime loss at California two years ago and Saturday’s UCLA win would have been USC’s 46th straight, one off Oklahoma’s 1953-57 record for the longest in history.
Through this year’s streak, USC leads the nation with 580.23 yards per game and is second in scoring with 50. Texas hasn’t lost since last year’s 12-0 loss to Oklahoma. In the stretch, it has mangled opponents, 51-15. Ohio State, which lost 25-22 at home, is the only team to come within 10 points of the Longhorns.
USC coach Carroll
vs. Texas coach Brown
Carroll just won his third straight conference crown; Brown just won his first conference crown in 22 years of coaching. A year ago, Carroll could have run for mayor of his town; Brown nearly got run out of town.
But Texas’ defense returned seven starters and Young stepped up big against Oklahoma, propelling the Longhorns to their first 12-0 season. Now let’s see the Longhorns return to the Rose Bowl, where they beat Michigan last season, and do it against USC in USC’s backyard.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to be in this situation, to be able to play in southern California, in Pasadena,” Carroll said.
“It’s what our program is structured about. It’s the goal of our program, and we’ve done everything we can to focus on that and to have this opportunity in the year it becomes a national championship game. It’s all we can ever ask for.”
Staff writer John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299
