The Rose Bowl Game is one of college football's most iconic and historic events. Played annually on January 1st in Pasadena, California, it is often referred to as "The Granddaddy of Them All" because it is the oldest bowl game, first played in 1902. Traditionally, it features top teams from the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences, though in recent years, it has also been part of the College Football Playoff rotation.
Held in the Rose Bowl Stadium, it is a part of the Tournament of Roses festivities, including the famous Rose Parade. Every year, two of the best teams in the two conferences give in their all to win the Leishman Trophy. While all the players of the team give their best in the match, there’s always one footballer who stands out as the best.
List of Rose Bowl MVPs
The Rose Bowl MVP is awarded annually with the Player of the Game award. The award is handed to two players - one for the best in offense and the other for the best in defense. Over the years, many talented players have had the opportunity to win the prestigious Rose Bowl award.
Rose Bowl MVPs (2005 - Present)
| Year | Offense MVP | Team | Position | Defense MVP | Team | Position |
| 2024 | J. J. McCarthy | Michigan | QB | Mason Graham | Michigan | DT |
| 2023 | Sean Clifford | Penn State | QB | Ji'Ayir Brown | Penn State | S |
| 2022 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Ohio State | WR | Tommy Eichenberg | Ohio State | LB |
| 2021 | DeVonta Smith | Alabama | WR | Patrick Surtain II | Alabama | CB |
| 2020 | Justin Herbert | Oregon | QB | Brady Breeze | Oregon | S |
| 2019 | Dwayne Haskins | Ohio State | QB | Brendon White | Ohio State | S |
| 2018 | Sony Michel | Georgia | RB | Roquan Smith | Georgia | LB |
| 2017 | Sam Darnold | USC | QB | Stevie Tu'ikolovatu | USC | DT |
| 2016 | Christian McCaffrey | Stanford | RB | Aziz Shittu | Stanford | DE |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | QB | Tony Washington | Oregon | LB |
| 2014 | Connor Cook | Michigan State | QB | Kyler Elsworth | Michigan State | LB |
| 2013 | Stepfan Taylor | Stanford | RB | Usua Amanam | Stanford | DB |
| 2012 | Lavasier Tuinei | Oregon | WR | Kiko Alonso | Oregon | LB |
| 2011 | Andy Dalton | TCU | QB | Tank Carder | TCU | LB |
| 2010 | Terrelle Pryor | Ohio State | QB | Kenny Rowe | Oregon | DE |
| 2009 | Mark Sanchez | USC | QB | Kaluka Maiava | USC | LB |
| 2008 | John David Booty | USC | QB | Rey Maualuga | USC | LB |
| 2007 | Dwayne Jarrett | USC | WR | Brian Cushing | USC | OLB |
| 2006 | Vince Young | Texas | QB | Michael Huff | Texas | S |
| 2005 | Vince Young | Texas | QB | LaMarr Woodley | Michigan | LB |
Also Read: List of the winners of the Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl MVPs (Before 2005)
| Year | MVP (s) |
| 2004 | Matt Leinart, USC |
| 2003 | Nate Hybl, Oklahoma University |
| 2002 | Ken Dorsey & Andre Johnson, Miami |
| 2001 | Marques Tuiasosopo, Washington |
| 2000 | Ron Dayne, Wisconsin |
| 1999 | Ron Dayne, Wisconsin |
| 1998 | Brian Griese, Michigan |
| 1997 | Joe Germaine, Ohio State |
| 1996 | Keyshawn Johnson, USC |
| 1995 | Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State & Danny O'Neil, Oregon |
| 1994 | Brent Moss, Wisconsin |
| 1993 | Tyrone Wheatley, Michigan |
| 1992 | Steve Emtman, Washington & Billy Joe Hobert, Washington |
| 1991 | Mark Brunell, Washington |
| 1990 | Ricky Ervins, USC |
| 1989 | Leroy Hoard, Michigan |
| 1988 | Percy Snow, Michigan State |
| 1987 | Jeff Van Raaphorst, Arizona State |
| 1986 | Eric Ball, UCLA |
| 1985 | Tim Green, USC & Jack Del Rio, USC |
| 1984 | Rick Neuheisel, UCLA |
| 1983 | Don Rogers, UCLA & Tom Ramsey, UCLA |
| 1982 | Jacque Robinson, Washington |
| 1981 | Butch Woolfolk, Michigan |
| 1980 | Charles White, USC |
| 1979 | Charles White, USC & Rick Leach, Michigan |
| 1978 | Warren Moon, Washington |
| 1977 | Vince Evans, USC |
| 1976 | John Sciarra, UCLA |
| 1975 | Pat Haden, USC & J.K. McCay, USC |
| 1974 | Cornelius Green, Ohio State |
| 1973 | Sam Cunningham, USC |
| 1972 | Don Bunce, Stanford |
| 1971 | Jim Plunkett, Stanford |
| 1970 | Bob Chandler, USC |
| 1969 | Rex Kern, Ohio State |
| 1968 | O.J. Simpson, USC |
| 1967 | John Charles, Purdue |
| 1966 | Bob Stiles, UCLA |
| 1965 | Mel Anthony, Michigan |
| 1964 | Jim Grabowski, Illinois |
| 1963 | Pete Beathard, USC |
| 1962 | Sandy Stephens, Minnesota |
| 1961 | Bob Schloredt, Washington |
| 1960 | Bob Schloredt, Washington & George Fleming, Washington |
| 1959 | Bob Jeter, Iowa |
| 1958 | Jack Crabtree, Oregon |
| 1957 | Kenneth Ploen, Iowa |
| 1956 | Walter Kowalczyk, Michigan |
| 1955 | Dave Leggett, Ohio State |
| 1954 | Billy Wells, Michigan State |
| 1953 | Rudy Bukich, USC |
| 1952 | William Tate, Illinois |
| 1951 | Donald Dufek, Michigan |
| 1950 | Fred "Curley" Morrison, Ohio State |
| 1949 | Frank Aschenbrenner, Northwestern |
| 1948 | Robert Chappuis, Michigan |
| 1947 | Claude "Buddy" Young, Illinois & Julius Rykovich, Illinois |
| 1946 | James Gilmer, Alabama |
| 1945 | Jim Hardy, USC |
| 1944 | Norman Verry, USC |
| 1943 | Charles Trippi, Georgia |
| 1942 | Donald Durdan, Oregon State |
| 1941 | Peter Kmetovic, Stanford |
| 1940 | Ambrose Schindler, USC |
| 1939 | Doyle Nave, USC & Alvin Krueger, USC |
| 1938 | Victor Bottari, California |
| 1937 | William Daddio, Pittsburgh |
| 1936 | James Moscrip, Stanford & Keith Topping, Stanford |
| 1935 | Millard "Dixie" Howell, Alabama |
| 1934 | Cliff Montgomery, Columbia |
| 1933 | Homer Griffith, USC |
| 1932 | Emy Pinckert, USC |
| 1931 | John Campbell, Alabama |
| 1930 | Russell Saunders, USC |
| 1929 | Benny Lom, California |
| 1928 | Clifford Hoffman, Stanford |
| 1927 | Fred Pickhard, Alabama |
| 1926 | John Mack Brown, Alabama & George Wilson, Washington |
| 1925 | Elmer Layden, Notre Dame & Ernie Nevers, Stanford |
| 1924 | Ira Mckee, Navy |
| 1923 | Leo Calland, USC |
| 1922 | Russel Stein, Washington & Jefferson |
| 1921 | Harold Miller, California |
| 1920 | Edward Casey, Harvard |
| 1919 | George Halas, Great Lakes Navy |
| 1918 | Hollis Huntington, Mare Island Marines |
| 1917 | John Beckett, Oregon |
| 1916 | Carl Dietz, Washington State |
| 1902 | Neil Snow, Michigan |
Players with multiple Rose Bowl Player of the Game Awards
| Player | Team | Year |
| Vince Young | Texas | 2005, 2006 |
| Ron Dayne | Wisconsin | 1999, 2000 |
| Charles White | USC | 1979, 1980 |
| Bob Schloredt | Washington | 1960, 1961 |
FAQs on Rose Bowl Game MVPs
A. Mason Graham of Michigan became the Rose Bowl defensive MVP in 2024.
A. Jim Grabowski of Illinois was the MVP of the 1964 Rose Bowl.
A. Yes, two Player of the Game Awards or MVPs are announced every year in the Rose Bowl - one in offense and another in defense.
A. Like every year, Rose Bowl 2025 will take place in the Rose Bowl stadium.
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