1983 Rose Bowl: Revenge against Michigan
After a big loss in the Bluebonnet Bowl the season before, UCLA met Michigan again the next year, only this time it was in Pasadena in the 69th edition of the Rose Bowl. The Bruins took down the Wolverines 24-14, avenging the loss from the season prior.
The Bruins were familiar with the Rose Bowl by this time, not just from their previous seven trips in program history, but also because 1982 was the first season that UCLA used the Rose Bowl as its home stadium. Terry Donahue’s team went undefeated in the stadium that year.
UCLA got strong play from its quarterback Tom Ramsey and it didn’t hurt the Bruins cause when Bo Schembechler’s team lost its quarterback. Steve Smith’s shoulder was injured on a big hit from Don Rogers and that allowed UCLA to pull away in the second half. Ramsey and Rogers were named the Players of the Game.
UCLA finished the year at No. 5 in the country with a 10-1-1 record.