Rose Bowl: No Luck required; Stanford takes third straight Rose Bowl, for triplecate Final Four; downs Florida 34-23

The questions going into the game, would SEC power dominate in a Florida win, or would two previous Rose Bowl victories propel Stanford to a third straight Final Four?  Early on, it looked like a well prepared Stanford team was on their way to Cowboys Stadium.

On the first play from scrimmage Florida QB Jeff Driskel's pass intercepted by Stanford and returned 38 yards for the touchdown, and suddenly the Cardinal fans were in pandemonium. 

Then, Stanford brought out the razzle dazzle on their first offensive possession, when wide receiver Drew Terrell's 34 yard pass was caught impressively by Jamal-Rashad Patterson.  This led to
Kelsey Young 16 yard touchdown run, and Stanford had a 14-0 lead.  

Florida finally scored early in the second quarter, on a Caleb Sturgis 33 yard field goal, to close the lead to 14-3. 

Stanford continued their offensive prowess, with a 79 yard drive, culminating in Stepfan Taylor's 3 yard touchdown run, and Stanford was in control 21-10.

Stanford's offense began to lose a bit of steam, and Florida put together a 75 yard drive to end the half, scoring on a Matt Jones 1 yard run, kinda swinging gate, gadgety play, and Florida had life, cutting the lead to 21-10 at half.

Both teams offensively sputtered in the third quarter, but Stanford took a 24-10 lead early in the fourth on a Jordan Williamson 47 yard field goal, and the Stanford crowd began to smell victory.  Another Williamson field goal, of 20 yards, added for a 27-10 Cardinal lead.

Florida answered on Andre Debose's 100 yard kickoff return, and the Gator fans began to think another comeback could be possible, now trailing 27-17.  But Stanford responded with a drive and TD to regain control 34-17.  Florida drove to score with two minutes left on Kent Taylor's 5 yard pass reception from Jeff Driskel, but it was too little, too late, and Stanford won 34-23.

Stanford returns to their third straight Final Four, upon completion of their Rose Bowl three-peat.  Their SEC odyssey may continue at Cowboys Stadium.  In Stanford's five previous tournament games over the last three seasons, four have been against five different SEC teams, and the trend might continue, as they take on the Sugar Bowl winner of Alabama or Florida State.


Updated tournament results:

FIRST ROUND:

In Atlanta:
7 Florida State 21
10 Wisconsin 14

In Chicago:
8 Northern Illinois 10     
9 Louisville 25

BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):

Fiesta:
1 Notre Dame
9 Louisville

Orange:
4 Oregon
5 Kansas State

Sugar:
2 Alabama
7 Florida State

Rose:
3 Florida 23
6 Stanford 34

Semi-Finals in Arlington, Texas:

Fiesta winner versus Orange winner

Sugar winner versus Stanford

BCS Championship in Miami