1946 Rose Bowl

The 1946 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1946, was a college football bowl game, the 32nd Rose Bowl Game, between the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama and the Trojans of the University of Southern California. The Tide defeated the underdog Trojans 34-14. It was Alabama’s sixth and final trip to the Rose Bowl and Coach Thomas' final bowl trip as a coach.

Game summary
Alabama, known as the "wooden horse" led at the half 20-0 and the Trojans had a net loss of 24 yards. USC, which had won eight straight Rose Bowl games since 1923, didn't make a first down until the third quarter when the score was 27-0.

Alabama outgained USC 351 to 41 yards. Quarterback Harry Gilmer threw only 11 times in the game for one touchdown and ran for 116 yards on 16 carries. Hal Self scored twice, on a one yard run and on a 24-yard Gilmer pass. Gilmer went over from the one, and Lowell Tew hit left guard from the two for points and Norwood Hodges scored up the middle on a one-yard plunge. Hugh Morrow kicked four extra points in the game.

This was the last Rose Bowl game played with "at large" teams from outside the Pac 8/Big 10 conferences. These two elite conferences openly admitted restricting the Rose Bowl, because they were tired of getting beaten by teams playing "hillbilly ball". The same reason they cited for not inviting them pre-1920.

First Quarter

 * Ala – Hal Self, 1-yard run (Hugh Morrow kick good)

Second Quarter

 * Ala – Hal Self, 1-yard run (Morrow kick good)
 * Ala – Lowell Tew, 5-yard run (Morrow kick missed)

Third Quarter

 * Ala – Norwood Hodges, 1-yard run (Morrow kick good)

Fourth Quarter

 * Ala – Harry Gilmer, 20-yard pass from Self (Morrow kick good)
 * USC – Harry Adelman, 26-yard pass from Lillywhite (Bowman kick good)
 * USC – Chick Clark returned a blocked kick (Lillywhite kick good)