This Day in College Football History: No. 1 Minnesota Gophers upset in Rose Bowl

This day in 1961 With a national title already in hand, future College Football Hall of Famer Sandy Stephens led No. 1 Minnesota to the Rose Bowl against No. 6 Washington. Huskies quarterback Bob Schloredt, a future College Football Hall of Famer himself, controlled the game by air, tossing a four-yard score to halfback Brent Wooten, and by land with 58 yards on six carries, including a one-yard plunge to put Washington on top 17-0 at the half. The Golden Gophers dominated the second half, claiming a 192-35 yardage advantage, but mustered just an 18-yard touchdown run by Bill Munsey on an option pitch from Stephens. Washington won the game 17-7, registering their second consecutive Rose Bowl upset following a 44-8 defeat of No. 6 Wisconsin the previous year. Minnesota returned to the Rose Bowl the following season and defeated UCLA 21-3. Minnesota has not been back to the Rose Bowl since. It is the longest running Rose Bowl drought by any school in the Big Ten. The Pac-12′s Cal (195...