Georgia’s last Rose Bowl: 1943 vs. UCLA

In the midst of World War II, the 29th edition of the Rose Bowl featured a UCLA team fresh off its first conference championship and the nation’s No. 2 team, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Led by the passing duel of Frank Sinkwich and Charley Trippi, the Bulldogs had recorded 10 wins and suffered its only loss of the season to rival Auburn.

A crowd of more than 90,000 in Pasadena, Calif., expected an offensive challenge from UCLA quarterback Bob Waterfield. Instead, Georgia’s defense held the Bruins to just five first downs and 157 total yards. Georgia’s powerful offensive line led a rushing attack that mustered 212 yards on the ground.

The game was a scoreless tie until the fourth quarter when Georgia’s Willard “Red” Boyd blocked a Bruins punt for a safety.

Sinkwich, the 1942 Heisman Trophy winner, scored the game’s only touchdown. A 1-yard run to seal the, 9-0, victory.

Georgia was named the consensus national champion that season.

His head down, Georgia's Frankie Sinkwich drills through the UCLA line for a five-yard gain in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 1943, at Pasadena, Calif.

Credit: Frank Filan

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Credit: Frank Filan

Georgia returns to the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2018, in a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners. It is the first meeting against the team. The national championship will be decided Jan. 8, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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