Despite VanderKelen's heroics, the Trojans triumphed. photograph by UPI/Corbis-Bettman

Thirty-five years after it was played, the first postseason game to pit No. 1 against No. 2 remains the wildest. Southern Cal stormed to a 42-14 lead in the fourth quarter, prompting Trojans fans to chant "We want the Packers!" They didn't get Vince Lombardi's boys, though. Instead, the Men of Troy got an inspired Ron VanderKelen. The Wisconsin quarterback led the Badgers to three fourth-quarter touchdowns and ended up with 401 yards passing. As Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray wrote, VanderKelen "completed more passes than a sailor on leave in Tahiti." Wisconsin had one last chance when USC punted on the game's final play, but hard-charging Elmars Ezerins just missed blocking the kick, and the Trojans held on to win their first national title.

'63 USC-Wisconsin | '64 Texas-Navy | '69 Ohio St.-USC
'72 Nebraska-Alabama | '79 Alabama-Penn St. | '83 Penn St.-Georgia
'87 Penn St.-Miami | '88 Miami-Oklahoma | '93 Alabama-Miami
'94 FSU-Nebraska | '96 Nebraska-Florida

Flashback | One vs. Two