USC had their way with Illinois, and when it didn't, the Illini shot themselves in the foot as the Trojans rolled to a 49-17 win.

As many expected, Illinois looked completely outmatched against a much more physical USC team that piled up a Rose Bowl record 633 yards.

Freshman running back Joe McKnight had 125 yards and a score on only 10 carries, and sophomore Stafon Johnson needed just 9 carries to tally 104 yards. QB John David Booty was 25-of-37 for 255 yards and 3 TD's.

Illinois looked like it might make it a game after falling behind 21-3 at halftime. The Illini opened the 3rd quarter with a touchdown and were driving again when Jacob Willis fumbled after a catch-and-run inside the USC 5-yard line. The Trojans then went 80 yards in 8 plays for a 28-10 lead when Illinois could have closed to within 21-17. That was one of four Illinois turnovers in a game that produced 1,078 total yards.

Ron Zook's second season as head coach saw Illinois improve its record by 7 wins as the Illini return to a bowl game for the first time since a 2001 loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Illinois was playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since the 1983 season.

USC is 23-9 in Rose Bowl games while is Illinois 3-2. Illinois' last Rose Bowl win came at the end of the 1963 season.