1954 was interesting, when it came to the RB.
USC was looking good at #7 and 8-1 and (I guess) garnered an invite to the Rose Bowl. But the Trojans were facing undefeated, #2 UCLA and got stomped. They then lost to ND.
So an 8-3, 17th-ranked USC played in the Rose Bowl vs Ohio State, while 9-0, #2-ranked UCLA sat home.
*now, the Pac-8 could have had a no-repeat rule like the B1G did, but idk....even if it did, how do you pass up a 1 vs 2 matchup!?!?!
Ohio State beat the now 8-4 Trojans and won the NC, ahead of UCLA. What's messed up is that UCLA was #1 for 2 weeks late in the season, but fell back to #2, after destroying Oregon. The Bruins allowed a total of 6 points in their final 5 games.