Rose by any other name for USC

After 98 combined points and 1,040 yards of spectacular offensive play, the highest-scoring Rose Bowl in history rested on the left foot of a University of Southern California kicker who had already missed two field goals.

But Matt Boermeester somehow blocked out the cacophonous tension in the chilly air and focused only on securing a perfect ending to an epic evening.

"The game was on the line, but you've got to keep true to your technique and trust it," Boermeester said.