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2004 Heisman Trophy-winner Matt Leinart leads the undefeated and top-ranked USC Trojans as they face off against the University of Oklahoma Sooners in the Sunshine State for the BCS national championship title.
The Trojans and Sooners went wire-to-wire atop both the AP and the coaches polls throughout the entire season; it's the first time Nos. 1 and 2 stayed the same from the AP preseason Top 25 through the final regular season poll, though Oklahoma shared second with Auburn University for one week.
Both teams - along with Auburn - ended the season with undefeated records of 12-0.
USC and OU head into the Orange Bowl with a history of recent national championship appearances as the Sooners advance to the BCS title game for the 3rd time in five years while the Trojans are the defending AP national champs.
"Our players are excited to be in this situation," said Carroll. "It's a tremendous match-up and we'll prepare for it with excitement and enthusiasm."
Both teams also feature a pair of Heisman candidates, Leinart and Reggie Bush for USC and Jason White and Adrian Peterson for the Sooners, while also being led by two of the best coaches in the game in Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops.
USC leads the overall series with Oklahoma 5-2-1 with victories in the last four meetings between the two schools.
USC and OU have a combined 17 National Championships between them. USC has 10 titles (2003, 1978, 1974, 1972, 1967, 1962, 1939, 1932, 1931 and 1928). OU owns seven titles (2000, 1985, 1975, 1974, 1956, 1955 and 1950), four of which came at the Orange Bowl.
The game airs nationally on ABC-TV at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST.
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