Revisiting Sam Darnold’s Rose Bowl Masterpiece
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If Sam Darnold plays half as good in Super Bowl LX as he did the last time he was on “the biggest stage of his career,” then the Seattle Seahawks will be just fine.
Darnold has certainly been on a gigantic stage as he’s helped the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl, where they will face the New England Patriots Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Darnold’s redemption story, of course, is one of the key narratives going into Super Bowl LX. Seattle is the fifth team Darnold has played for since he was the third overall pick in the draft nearly eight years ago. Darnold’s first five NFL seasons — three with the New York Jets and two with the Carolina Panthers — were mediocre enough to make most current fans forget exactly why Darnold was such a high draft pick in the first place.
Here’s a quick reminder…
As a redshirt freshman with USC in 2016, Darnold became the starting quarterback after the Trojans began the season 1-2. Darnold lost his first career start, but then USC closed the season with eight straight wins, including an upset of No. 4 Washington. Darnold was a revelation, setting a USC freshman record with 26 TD passes. He set a school record with two or more TD passes in eight straight games, including back-to-back games with five TD passes. USC ended the season ranked No. 9, earning a trip to face No. 5 Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl.
It was in that game, on January 2, 2017, when Sam Darnold had his official coming-out party. Darnold was 19 at the time, and he had a game for the ages.
“Reminds me a little bit of a younger Andrew Luck when he was at Stanford, as far as his ability to get away from pressure,” said Kirk Herbstreit during ESPN’s call of the game. Darnold had just avoided a sack and faked out a linebacker to scramble for six yards in the first quarter. “Deceptively fast but also strong,” Herbstreit said of the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder.
USC was up 27-21 with seconds left in first half when Darnold had another productive scramble to cross into Penn State territory. On second-and-10 at the Nittany Lions’ 43 with seven seconds left, Darnold rolled right and completed a pass along the sideline to get into field goal range with two seconds on the clock.
“This guy is a freshman, right?” asked an amazed Chris Fowler on the play-by-play. “You sure Darnold is a freshman quarterback? He didn’t play somewhere else before he got here to USC?”
Replied Herbstreit: “He is in total control.”
Never mind that the ensuing field-goal try was no good. Darnold’s numbers at halftime: 263 yards, 3 TDs.
Not to be outdone, Penn State roared back with three lightning-quick touchdowns in the first five minutes of the second half — including a 79-yard touchdown run from Saquon Barkley and a 72-yard TD reception from Chris Godwin.
There was just a little star power in this game.
Penn State scored again later in the third and took a 49-35 lead into the fourth quarter. Darnold led a 10-play, 83-yard drive that was capped by Ronald Jones’ three-yard TD run midway through the fourth. A few possessions later, down 49-42, USC took possession at its own 20-yard line with 1:59 left and no timeouts.
On first-and-10, with the pocket closing in on him, Darnold backed out of pressure, moved to his right and completed a pass for a first down. His next pass got the Trojans to their 43. After back-to-back pass interference calls took USC to the Penn State 27, Darnold dropped back and fired a strike into the end zone that’s caught by Deontay Burnett for the game-tying touchdown.
“This Sam Darnold is as good a quarterback as you’re gonna see in college football!” exclaimed Herbstreit. “He just went right down the field and ends up coming up with a big play.
“How does he make this throw with that coverage?” Herbstreit adds as they show a replay. “Throws a dime right over top of the linebacker and between the two safeties.”
“He is a born quarterback,” says Fowler.
“He is in a different galaxy,” says Herbstreit.
The Rose Bowl seemed destined for overtime… until it wasn’t. Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley threw an interception on the ensuing possession, which Leon McQuay returned 32 yards to the Penn State 33. After a short run and a spike to stop the clock with five seconds left, Matt Boermeester kicked the game-winning field goal. USC 52, Penn State 49.
Darnold completed 33 of 54 passes for 453 yards and a Rose Bowl-record five touchdowns.
“Sam Darnold does a lot of great things, and he’s only gonna get better,” Herbstreit said as the game went final. As impressed as Herbstreit was with Darnold’s quarterback play, he was equally taken by his poise and presence.
“The thing that really stands out,” Herbstreit said as they replayed the game-tying touchdown, “like a lot of the great ones — look at his reaction… Like it’s an every-day thing for him.
“What a competitor.”
Darnold’s sophomore season — which would be his last before turning pro — was solid. He passed for 4,143 yards and 26 touchdowns, though his 13 interceptions were four more than he threw as a freshman. Still, the bar was raised high from that amazing Rose Bowl performance. It was the kind of performance that likely led some people to think they would someday see him starting in the Super Bowl.
Nine years later, someday has arrived.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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