Don't mess with Rose Bowl tradition.
Organizers decided to stick with their historical Pac-10-Big Ten matchup Sunday, picking 13th-ranked Illinois to play USC on New Year's Day after Ohio State got upgraded to the national championship game.
"Illinois presented the tradition of the Big Ten-Pac-10, and wanting to stick with that tradition when we can was really the primary decision," said CL Keedy, president of the Tournament of Roses Association.
Rose Bowl Gets Its Wish, USC To Meet Illinois