Oregon Wins 1st Rose Bowl in 95 Years

Beats Wisconsin 45-38
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 2, 2012 8:34 PM CST
Oregon Ducks Win First Rose Bowl in 95 Years, Beating Wisconsin Badgers 45-38
Oregon's John Boyett (20) stops Wisconsin running back, Montee Ball (28) during the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif.    (Mark J. Terrill)

Oregon's incredible offense busted up Wisconsin and the record books on the way to the Ducks' first Rose Bowl victory in 95 years. Darron Thomas passed for three touchdowns, De'Anthony Thomas scored on runs of 91 and 64 yards, and the No. 6 Ducks earned their first bowl victory under coach Chip Kelly, holding off Wisconsin 45-38 tonight in the highest-scoring Rose Bowl ever played.

And it wasn't over until a video review confirmed the Badgers (11-3) ran out of time at the Oregon 25, out of timeouts, and unable to spike the ball in time to stop the clock for a last-gasp fling. Lavasier Tuinei caught eight passes for 158 yards and two TDs for the Ducks (12-2), who had no postseason success to show for Kelly's otherwise wildly successful three-year tenure until this landmark offensive performance in the 98th Rose Bowl. Oregon hadn't won the West Coast's biggest game since 1917. The Granddaddy of Them All had never seen this many points, beating the record 80 scored by Washington and Iowa in 1991. With the Ducks wearing mirrored helmets and playing at their usual frantic pace, Oregon racked up 621 total yards, just shy of the Rose Bowl record. Click for more from the game. (More Rose Bowl stories.)

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