subject: Rose Bowl Game General Information History [print this page] The Rose Bowl is the highest attended college football bowl game around the nation. The number of enthusiasts inside the stands regularly reaches in excess of 90,000 individuals. This game is also known as the "Granddaddy of Them All" considering it's the oldest bowl game. The initial time the Rose Bowl was performed was back in 1902, but then it took a break for 14 seasons afterwards. Ever since starting again up in 1916, the Rose Bowl continues to be performed every single season.
The Rose Bowl usually matched up the top team in the Big Ten facing off versus the very best team in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12). Right now, if either the Big 10 champion or the Pac-12 champion is playing for the BCS National Championship, a team from another conference can be selected.
The Big 10 was normally the home team in odd-numbered seasons, while the Pac-12 team was home through the even numbered seasons. Having said that, now the home team will be the team with the highest ending BCS rating. That university will get the East sideline and wears their home uniforms while the visiting school gets the West sideline and puts on their visitor jerseys. The national anthem is played by the band of the school with the bigger BCS national rating. That school then performs first at halftime, followed by the other team's band. It is in the television contract that a portion of each band's halftime performance be shown.
The game's background has seen a dominance by Southern California. The Trojans have played in the Rose Bowl on 33 occasions, being victorious in 24 of those appearances. Michigan is the Big 10 leader with 20 appearances and eight victories. Washington and Ohio State have both been 14 occasions, winning 7 each. Stanford and UCLA both have been eligible 12 instances with 5 victories each.
The longest droughts of not making it to the Rose Bowl for Big Ten universities includes Indiana's only appearance taking place back in 1968, Minnesota not being involved since 1962, and Michigan State's last showing back in 1988. The Pac-12 hasn't had California as their representative since 1959 and Oregon State hasn't returned since 1965. At least they have played, Arizona is yet to generate a Rose Bowl bid in the team's history.
Some of the teams outside of the Big 10 and Pac-12 which have performed in non-BCS Championship Rose Bowls are Alabama with six appearances, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Columbia, and Navy.
