1973 Rose Bowl

DateJanuary 1, 1973Season1972StadiumRose BowlLocationPasadena, CaliforniaMVPSam Cunningham (USC RB)FavoriteUSC by 14 points National anthemThe Ohio State University Marching BandRefereePaul Kamanski (Pac-8)
(split crew: Pac-8, Big Ten)Halftime showSpirit of Troy, The Ohio State University Marching BandAttendance106,869 (Bowl game and stadium record)United States TV coverageNetworkNBCAnnouncersCurt Gowdy, Al DeRogatisNielsen ratings30.0

The 1973 Rose Bowl was the 59th of the college footballbowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, January 1. It matched the undefeated and top-ranked USC Trojans of the Pacific-8 Conference with the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference. The game was a de facto national championship game, both teams competing for the Associated Press (AP) title, with #2 Oklahoma having won its bowl game for a potential title claim.

USC running back Sam Cunningham scored four touchdowns in the second half and was named the Player of the Game, as the favored Trojans won 42–17. They were unanimous national champions in both major polls, the first time in college football history. (The final UPICoaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.)

The attendance of 106,869 set the stadium record, as well as the NCAA bowl game record.