Trojans Roll in Rose Bowl 49-17

Four Illini turnovers become TDs as frosh McKnight runs wild
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 1, 2008 10:40 PM CST
Trojans Roll in Rose Bowl 49-17
USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson kisses the trophy after his team beat Illinois 49-17 at the Rose Bowl football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)   (Associated Press)

Just imagine if the Trojans had played this well all season. No. 6 USC set a Rose Bowl record in total offense and tied the record in points in a 49-17 thrashing of No. 13 Illinois. Freshman Joe McKnight did his best Reggie Bush impression, gaining 170 of his team's 633 yards, and the Trojans' dominating defense created four turnovers.

All four quickly became touchdowns. Even USC's miscues were auspicious: a badly executed lateral by quarterback John David Booty was plucked from the ground by McKnight and converted to a 55-yard gain. Booty, a senior, threw for three scores and now has seven career Rose Bowl touchdowns—a record. (More NCAA stories.)

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