Washington scored first when quarterback Cody Pickett threw a 7 yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Patrick Reddick for an early 7-0 lead. 2 minutes later, linebacker Marquis Cooper recovered a fumble and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown doubling the lead to 14-0. a 38 yard John Anderson field goal increased the lead to 17-0, which closed out the 1st quarter scoring.
In the second quarter, quarterback Kyle Orton found wide receiver John Standeford for a 7 yard touchdown pass, to put Purdue on the scoreboard down 17-7. Just before halftime, Washington fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Ray Williams in the end zone for a touchdown, making the halftime score 17-14.
In the third quarter, Berin Lacevic kicked a 22 yard field goal to tie the game at 17. Running back Joey Harris later scored on a 10 yard touchdown run for Purdue, giving Purdue its first lead at 24-17. On Washington's next possession, they fumbled again, and Gilbert Gardner ran it in 19 yards for a touchdown, and Purdue increased its lead to 31-17.
A 29 yard field goal in the 4th quarter by Purdue made the lead 34-17, and Purdue had scored 17 unanswered points. Washington got on the board one last time after Cody Pickett found Patrick Reddick for a 12 yard touchdown pass to make the final margin 34-24, which was also the final score of the 2001 Rose Bowl just with Washington winning that game.