COL FB: So. California 49, Illinois 17

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- John David Booty passed for 255 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, catapulting sixth-ranked Southern California to a 49-17 Rose Bowl win over Illinois.

Joe McKnight ran for 125 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 45 yards for the Trojans (11-2), who made their 32nd Rose Bowl appearance. USC posted a 32-18 victory over Michigan in last year's Rose Bowl.

Stafon Johnson ran for 104 yards on nine carries, and Fred Davis caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown for USC, which ended the season on a five-game winning streak.

Juice Williams passed for 245 yards while completing 21 of 35. But he had no touchdown passes and two interceptions for Illinois (9-4). It was Illinois' fifth trip to the Rose Bowl but its first since 1984.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 155 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown run for the Illini, who rode a four-game winning streak into the game. Arrelious Benn caught five passes for 80 yards and a TD.