Carlos Hyde (Ohio State) vs Michigan Wolverines 2012

ESPN Report:

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The only thing Urban Meyer lost during his first season at Ohio State was his cool -- at the end of the last game.

Carlos Hyde ran for 146 yards and the fourth-ranked Buckeyes' defense shut out No. 20 Michigan in the second half to grab a bruising 26-21 win on Saturday, completing an improbable 12-0 season for the Buckeyes.

Meyer got emotional as the final seconds ticked off, embracing his players on the sideline at a raucous Ohio Stadium. Too emotional, he said later.

"I've got to keep a little more composure, I guess," he said sheepishly. "In the coaching manual, I think it's chapter 13, it says, 'Keep cool.' I lost it there for a couple of minutes."

Well, give the guy a break.

Almost no one -- up to and including Meyer -- expected such a rapid turnaround for the Buckeyes, who were just 6-7 last season with a loss to their archrivals in a transitional year when they were facing heavy NCAA penalties. A month after Meyer took the job last November, they were socked with a bowl ban after this season -- and still ran the table.

"You get all the wins you can, especially against the Team Up North, especially at home on top of that," said exuberant Buckeyes quarterbackBraxton Miller.

Ohio State (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten) is ineligible for a BCS national title but still has an outside shot at finishing No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 if other contenders lose. Michigan (8-4, 6-2) will now await a minor bowl bid.

"At this point in time, Ohio State can go and play with anybody in America," Meyer said. "I wouldn't say that five weeks ago, but you've seen the growth, what we did today and the growth of our defense."

Drew Basil matched his season output with four field goals and the defense did the rest, forcing three turnovers in the second half.

It was played before 105,899, the largest crowd ever to witness "The Game" in Columbus.

Meyer and his players were mobbed by thousands of fans who flooded the field after the Buckeyes' ninth victory in the last 11 years in the rivalry (the 2010 win was later vacated by the sanctions).

The crush of people precluded Michigan's Brady Hoke from the traditional postgame handshake with Meyer.

"No big deal. Not a big deal," Hoke said over his shoulder as he left his postgame news conference. "Not a story."

Hyde also ran for a touchdown. Miller completed 14 of 18 passes for 189 yards and a score to Corey Brown, who had eight catches for 95 yards.

The Buckeyes had already clinched the Big Ten's Leaders Division, but aren't allowed to play in next Saturday's conference title game. Michigan needed a win to capture a share of the Legends Division with Nebraska, which will meet Wisconsin for the championship.

Hoke had won his first game as a head coach in the rivalry.

"I like the W better," he said.

Now, about all Ohio State can hope for is that every other top team in the nation -- including the only other unbeaten, top-ranked Notre Dame -- loses and loses badly. A team banned from the postseason has never finished No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll, and the Buckeyes are not eligible for the Bowl Championship Series rankings or coaches' poll.

Michigan's Denard Robinson had a brilliant first half, scoring on a 67-yard run, but was largely invisible in the second. He totaled 122 yards on 10 carries, but had lost 2 yards on his four carries after halftime.

"We know the reason we lost the game," Robinson said. "We had three turnovers in the second half. That's not acceptable."

Devin Gardner, the other half of Michigan's quarterback tandem, was 11 of 20 for 171 yards with an interception and a 75-yard touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree.

For the Buckeyes, the game will be remembered for the staunch defense played when most needed. Michigan had 26 plays for 219 yards in the first half, then ran 21 plays for a net of 60 yards in the second.

"It feels great," defensive back Christian Bryant said. "Taking it out for the seniors -- that was our motto for the season -- and that's what we did."

For the Wolverines, there will be lingering questions for Hoke, who wore short sleeves in the freezing temperatures -- just like Woody Hayes used to during the 1960s and 1970s in the rivalry.

With his team ahead 21-20, Hoke called timeout on fourth and 2 near midfield on Michigan's first possession of the second half. Robinson then tried the middle, but ran into linebackerRyan Shazier for a two-yard loss.

That cost the Wolverines the lead as Ohio State drove to the Michigan 11 before settling for Basil's 28-yard field goal, putting the Buckeyes up 23-21.

"We've got to have each other's back," Hoke said. "We didn't get it and (our own) defense went out there and did a nice job."

Gardner fumbled when hit by Johnathan Hankins with 8:19 left, with Travis Howardpouncing on the loose ball after several players had a shot at it. Taking over at the Wolverines' 10, the Buckeyes could not move the ball and were forced to settle for Basil's fourth field goal of the game, a 25-yarder with 6:26 remaining, for a 26-21 lead.

Basil came into the game just 4 for 6 on the year.

The last turnover ended the Wolverines' hopes.

Gardner tossed a floater that was intercepted by C.J. Barnett, ending the Wolverines final threat as Hyde carried the ball repeatedly and the Buckeyes played keep-away to the finish.

Between the first and second quarters, Ohio State honored its 2002 national championship team. After a highlight clip was shown to a roaring crowd, several players hoisted coach Jim Tressel to their shoulders and carried him out of the end zone.

No boos were heard, or else they were drowned out -- even though it was Tressel's NCAA violations, he failed to report players exchanging team memorabilia for cash and tattoos, which will keep this year's unbeaten Buckeyes home in the postseason.

Asked if -- should his team end up as the only unbeaten in the nation -- it should be crowned No. 1 in the AP poll, Meyer said: "I'm not going to get into the 'what ifs.' You can't control what you can't control. ... We're 12-0 and I'm going to see to it when you walk into that Woody Hayes (practice) facility that this team will never be forgotten. Because they deserve that."

DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma) Highlights 2007 - vs Texas

Performance Rating: B+

Good side: He was very effective running the ball, and always found a way to move the chains. Had one amazing run for 65 yards.

Bad side: Very weak first half, had one fumble.

ESPN Report:

Since he's only 19 and was playing just his sixth college game, Oklahoma'sSam Bradford can be excused for thinking he can do things most quarterbacks wouldn't even try.

Like calling an audible on third-and-14 from his own 12 amid the roar of Texas fans. Or going long on third down to a guy who spent the last few series getting treatment for a sore hamstring.

Then again, Bradford is proving to be not-your-ordinary quarterback.

Facing a tough foe in a hostile setting, Bradford looked as comfortable as he did in his record-setting first few games against overmatched opponents, throwing for three touchdowns and hardly making a mistake while steering the No. 10 Sooners past the No. 19 Longhorns 28-21 in their annual grudge match Saturday.

"Sam, for as young as he is, has a lot of confidence and a lot of cool to him," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "He doesn't make too much of a situation. He trusts the guys around him to make plays."

Bradford, a redshirt freshman, came in as the nation's most efficient passer, but his numbers were piled up against inferior competition. This was his big test, coming off a 1-for-8 second half in a loss at Colorado and center stage in the 102nd meeting between these Red River rivals.

This game was all about survival in the Big 12 race after losses by both teams last weekend put them way behind in the national title chase.

Bradford was 21-of-32 for 244 yards, which might not sound great unless you consider the importance of his three touchdown passes -- putting OU up 7-0, 14-7 and 28-21. He also completed 12 straight passes between the second and fourth quarters.

Most importantly, he was clicking when Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1) really needed it.

"He always tells you, 'Let's get this.' That's his favorite quote," receiver Malcolm Kelly said. "No matter how bad we're getting beat or how we're not getting anything going, his demeanor never changes. He always let's us know we have a chance. And with Sam, you've got a chance."

Bradford went 5-of-5 on the first scoring drive, with completions of 14, 34, 39 and 41 yards, then a 1-yarder to Jermaine Gresham in the end zone. The 14-yarder came on the audible teammates could barely hear as they were surrounded by screaming fans in burnt orange.

The winning drive began at the 6 after Texas (4-2, 0-2) tied it and Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray picked up the ensuing kickoff at the 2 even though it appeared to be spinning out of bounds. Instead of bemoaning the field position or worrying about a mistake, Bradford came out firing -- and coaches trusted him to do so. He went 7-of-8; the only incompletion was a drop and the next snap was a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kelly, who missed most of the third quarter because his right hamstring cramped up.

"I think the coaches did a good job of getting us in good situations," Bradford said. "We had a good plan and when we got out there, things just got rolling."

The Longhorns, who were ranked seventh before a 20-point loss to Kansas State last weekend, could be in jeopardy of ending a national-best, 114-week stint in the AP poll. A bigger obstacle is being 0-2 in conference play -- plus the embarrassment of having such a stumbling start for the first time since 1956, the year before Darrell Royal arrived.

It didn't have to happen. Texas had four possessions after Bradford's go-ahead pass to Kelly, but Colt McCoy only got the Longhorns across midfield on two plays. He threw an interception on one, then never even got off the second because of a false start.

"We just couldn't finish," said Jermichael Finley, who had four catches for 149 yards, the most ever for a Texas tight end. He had gains of 55 and 58 yards that set up Texas' first two touchdowns, the first going to Jordan Shipley and the second TD to Finley, putting the Longhorns ahead 14-7.

"We've just got to look over this and keep on going, keep on rolling," Finley said.

McCoy, who showed signs of a concussion while getting battered last weekend, played with his throwing arm bandaged from mid-forearm to biceps. While his body held up and his stats were pretty good (19-of-26 for 324 yards) this just wasn't his day.

He couldn't even get officials to throw a flag when he was thrown down from his blind side on a play that had been whistled dead. His lone interception went through the hands of running back Jamaal Charles, who also lost a fumble inside the Oklahoma 5 in the third quarter.

Charles apparently forgot the anti-fumbling advice he's been getting from new workout buddy, Texas great Earl Campbell.

"I just saw the end zone and was trying to do too much," Charles said of his critical fumble. "I had a good hold on it."

Murray took over as Oklahoma's featured back after starter Allen Patrick was hurt in the third quarter and had a 65-yard touchdown run, which he got to celebrate on the sideline with former OU star Adrian Peterson, visiting during the Minnesota Vikings' bye week. Murray finished with 128 yards.

Kelly caught five passes for 105 yards and Juaquin Iglesias had 99 yards on six catches. Gresham caught two TD passes.

Charles ran for 79 yards and Vondrell McGee went 1 yard for the Longhorns' final score.

LaMichael James (Oregon) Highlights 2011 - vs Wisconsin - Rose Bowl

Performance Rating: A

Good side: Great performance by James, he was constantly giving headaches to the Wisconsin's defensive coordinator, who didn't have solution how to stop him. He scored only one touchdown, but had many first downs.

Bad side: None, he had a great game.

ESPN Report:

The Oregon Ducks had waited 95 years to win another Rose Bowl presented by Vizio, and the last few seconds stretched for an eternity. The players in mirrored helmets held each other back on the sideline, waiting on tiptoes for video review to confirm Wisconsin was out of time.

The call went Oregon's way. The Ducks stormed the hallowed field.

The most futuristic team in college football had buried another bit of history, and that revolutionary offense finally has a shiny trophy that will look right at home among those eye-catching uniforms.

Darron Thomas passed for three touchdowns,De'Anthony Thomas scored on runs of 91 and 64 yards, and the Ducks (No. 5 BCS, No. 6 AP) earned their first bowl victory under coach Chip Kelly, holding off the Badgers 45-38 Monday night in the highest-scoring Rose Bowl ever played.

"We had no doubt this year that we were going to come out and do big things," said Darron Thomas, who passed for 268 yards. "It's a big statement for the Oregon program."

Indeed: The last time Oregon won the Rose Bowl, beating Penn 14-0 in 1917, the players wore leather helmets, not those shiny numbers that exemplify every innovation the Ducks have created during Kelly's three-year tenure.

Oregon (12-2) showed off that creativity with 621 total yards -- second-most in Rose Bowl history -- against the tough Badgers, playing at its usual frantic pace until the final whistle. Lavasier Tuinei caught eight passes for 158 yards and two TDs for the Ducks, who had no postseason success to show for Kelly's otherwise wildly successful three-year tenure until this landmark offensive performance.

"None of us were around 95 years ago, and we never talked about it," Kelly said. "We're a forward-thinking operation, and we're always looking ahead."

Maybe so, but it's unlikely anybody from Oregon will forget how this one ended.

With two long passes, Russell Wilson moved the Badgers to the Oregon 25, but with 2 seconds left and no timeouts. After waiting for the ball to be set, he spiked it to set up a last-ditch heave to the end zone, but the clock hit zeroes while he did it.

The Ducks were winners after video review, holding Wisconsin scoreless in the fourth quarter.

"It would have been nice to have a chance there," said Wilson, who passed for 296 yards and two scores. "With 1 second left, I think we could have capitalized."

The Ducks don't doubt it: The 98th Rose Bowl was that kind of game. The Granddaddy of Them All had never seen this many points, beating the record 80 scored by Washington and Iowa in 1991.

"We knew we had to score almost every time we touched the ball," Wisconsin tailbackJames White said.

Montee Ball rushed for 122 of his 164 yards in the first half for the Badgers (11-3), who lost the Rose Bowl for the second straight year despite managing 508 yards of their own. Ball tied Barry Sanders' FBS record with his 39th touchdown of the season, but the Heisman Trophy finalist was held to three carries for no yards in the fourth quarter.

Wisconsin had two drives to tie it after Oregon kicked a field goal with 6:50 to play, butJared Abbrederis fumbled near the Oregon sideline after making a long catch. The ball plopped onto the turf without even bouncing, and Oregon's Michael Clay jumped on it with 4:06 left.

That video review went the Ducks' way, too.

"I have to be more careful with the ball," said Abbrederis, who made a TD catch on the opening drive. "They made a big play. I can't dwell on this. I have to move forward and look towards next year. We're all human. This will make me better."

The Ducks and Badgers produced the highest-scoring first quarter (14-14) and first half (28-28) in Rose Bowl history, eventually surpassing the 80 scored in Washington's 46-34 win over Iowa in 1991. Oregon's yardage fell just short of USC's 633 yards against Illinois in 2008.

Sure, Baylor's 67-56 win over Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl last Thursday might have packed bigger sheer numbers. But Wisconsin and Oregon commanded a much bigger stage -- and the Ducks unleashed every bit of their formidable offensive power.

Tuinei was named the Ducks' offensive player of the game, but their flashiest star in those futuristic helmets was De'Anthony Thomas, the freshman from Los Angeles who showed off his electrifying athleticism on the longest scoring run in Rose Bowl history in the second quarter, going 91 yards up the middle. He added a 64-yard scoring run in the opening minute of the second half as Oregon won the matchup of the last two losers of the Rose Bowl.

Wisconsin lost 21-19 to TCU last season, and the Ducks lost to Ohio State two years ago before losing the BCS title game last year.

"It almost felt like there was some sort of magical force keeping us from getting it done in bowl games," Oregon guard Carson York said. "Glad we did it today."

LaMichael James rushed for 159 yards and an early TD in his likely college finale for the Ducks, and Kenjon Barner caught a TD pass from Darron Thomas.

Nick Toon caught a TD pass for Wisconsin, and defensive end Louis Nzegwu returned a fumble 33 yards for a score in the second quarter.

Both teams won their respective conferences' first-ever league title games to earn this trip to Pasadena. Although the Ducks' drought was generations longer, Wisconsin hasn't won in Pasadena since Jan. 1, 2000, when Ron Dayne led the Badgers to back-to-back Rose Bowl titles.

Oregon quickly debunked the theory that teams with extra time to prepare for the Ducks' inventive offense have a better chance to stop it. The Ducks were 1-4 in bowl games and season openers under Kelly until they carved up Wisconsin with the second-biggest yardage performance in Rose Bowl history.

Wisconsin set the tone from its opening drive, going 77 yards in seven plays for Abbrederis' wide-open 38-yard TD catch just 3:12 in.

De'Anthony Thomas ended the record-breaking first quarter by bursting through the Wisconsin line and sprinting down the Oregon sideline for a 91-yard score, surpassing Tyrone Wheatley's bowl-record 88-yard run in 1993 and capping the second-longest scoring drive in Rose Bowl history at 95 yards with Oregon's longest run all season.

Wisconsin opened the second quarter with Ball's record-tying TD, but Darron Thomas found Barner open down the seam for a 54-yard score on Oregon's next play. Both defenses then got a brief chance to shine: The Ducks stopped Wisconsin on fourth down inside the Oregon 20, but blitzing Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor forced Darron Thomas' fumble moments later, and Nzegwu scooped and scored.

Oregon calmly answered with Tuinei's 3-yard TD catch with 30 seconds left. The teams' 56 combined points in the first half surpassed the record 45 scored by Wisconsin and UCLA in 1999.

De'Anthony Thomas' 64-yard TD run put Oregon ahead for the first time, but the Badgers swung ahead with Wilson's 18-yard TD pass to Toon. After the quarterbacks traded interceptions, Darron Thomas found Tuinei for his second score just 25 seconds into the fourth quarter, putting the Ducks ahead to stay.

Game notes

The game-time temperature was 82 degrees, making it the warmest bowl game in Wisconsin history. ... It was also the highest-scoring bowl game in Wisconsin history, and the Badgers tied the school bowl record with 38 points. ... Oregon is 2-4 in the Rose Bowl. ... Oregon LB Kiko Alonso was the defensive player of the game with an interception and 1½ sacks.

Vince Young (Texas) Highlights 2005 - vs Kansas Jayhawks

Performance Rating: A

Good side: Young had great first half with 4 Touchdown passes, he was finding his wide receivers well, also had few deep balls and great decisions. 

Bad side: He had bad game rushing the ball with -4 yards in 6 attempts. He also dropped two snaps, but somehow recovered them. He almost got intercepeted in 2 or 3 occasions.

ESPN report:

If this is what happens when Vince Young gets mad, watch out.

Still steamed over comments Kansas coach Mark Mangino made after Texas beat the Jayhawks last year, Young passed for 281 yards and a career-high four touchdowns Saturday as the No. 2 Longhorns rolled to a 66-14 victory that clinched the Big 12 South Division title.

After misfiring on his first three passes, Young completed eight in a row with scoring strikes of 45, 64 and 29 yards in a victory that left Mangino praising the Longhorns this time.

"I don't think I've ever been on a field where I have seen so many big, strong, fast, talented kids," said Mangino, who called Young "phenomenal."

Last year, Young's late game heroics pulled out a 27-23 Texas win on the road. Mangino complained bitterly that his team had outplayed Texas but had been victimized by a late-game penalty and the Big 12 slapped him with a $5,000 fine.

Young said early in the week he felt Mangino's comments last year had "disrespected" Texas and set out to make sure it didn't happen again.

"When somebody talks about your coaches and players, it's like someone talking about your mother," Young said.

The Longhorns sprinted to a 52-0 lead by halftime in a game that was every bit as ugly as the score would suggest.

Texas (10-0, 7-0) held the Jayhawks (5-5, 2-5) to one first down in the first half and rolled up 618 total yards, 336 on the ground against the nation's toughest run defense. The 52 points tied a school record for most points in a half.

The victory sends Texas to the Big 12 title game on Dec. 3 for the first time since 2001, although their fans are thinking well beyond that.

Television cameras showed several fans waving red roses and those who stayed until the end chanted "Rose Bowl!" and "Heisman!" as Young and the players left the field after their final home game of the season.

Young became Texas' career total offense leader with 8,269 yards, breaking the school record of 8,059 set by Major Applewhite (1998-2001). He passed for 264 yards and all four TDs in the first half and left the game with five minutes to play in the third quarter.

"It's great to break records, but I'm always giving respect to the guys who have been through it," Young said.

Young started the avalanche of points with his 45-yard scoring toss to Limas Sweed on a deep route over the middle. The 6-foot-5 receiver jumped over 5-11 cornerback Theo Baines in the end zone for the touchdown.

Kansas' Greg Heaggins fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Texas recovered at the Jayhawks' 10. Texas' second TD in 13 seconds made it 14-0 when Jamaal Charles weaved his way through four tacklers to reach the goal line on the next play.

Young hit Quan Cosby on another deep route for a 21-0 lead. A Kansas defensive back grabbed Cosby's jersey to keep him from getting to the ball, but Cosby fought through the hold to grab the pass and streak to the end zone.

"His passing is night and day from last year," Jayhawks linebacker Nick Reid said. "It was pretty embarrassing. They really put it to us."

Texas then forced a punt and Aaron Ross took it straight up the middle of the field, dodging two tacklers as he went 71 yards on his second scoring return of the year.

By the time Texas led 28-0 in the first quarter, the Longhorns has as many touchdowns (four) as first downs. And the scoring was just getting started.

"Their whole focus was to stop the run," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "We started throwing the ball all over the place to let them know we were interested in winning the game."

Ramonce Taylor scored on an 8-yard run in which he started left, turned around and reversed field before ducking under two tacklers at the goal line. Young's third TD pass, 29 yards to tight end David Thomas, made it 42-0.

Young's fourth scoring pass came when he rolled to his right on a bootleg before hitting freshman tight end Peter Ullman in the end zone. David Pino's 35-yard field goal pushed the Longhorns over 50 points for third time in four games.

"We went out there and took care of the whole game, offense, defense and special teams," Young said. "It showed how much we have."