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USC linebacker Dallas Sartz hammers Michigan quarterback Chad Henne during the No. 8 Trojans' 32-18 victory in the Rose Bowl. Henne was sacked six times and also threw a costly interception.

USC took control early in the third quarter when, after three straight handoffs to Hart, the Wolverines tried a screen pass that Henne threw into a crowd, only to see it land in the hands of Jackson.

Thus began a string with Booty throwing on nine straight plays, including four consecutive completions that led to the game’s first touchdown and a 10-3 lead.

After a three-and-out, Booty moved the Trojans 70 yards, capping it with a 22-yard pass to Jarrett, who easily made the catch over Morgan Trent and celebrated by pretending he was shooting hoops.

Cushing got another sack and Jackson recovered the ensuing fumble on the next drive, which led to a field goal and 19-3 lead.

From there, the teams went back and forth, giving Jarrett the chance to pad some stats and impress the NFL scouts, who were certainly watching him fashion a successful finish to a frustrating and injury-plagued year.

“We’ve been working so hard all week to get this thing right,” Jarrett said. “We wanted to go out on a good note, and we came out and performed well.”

It was a splendid ending to what has been a difficult month and year for the Trojans, who were denied a spot in their third straight BCS title game because of the loss to UCLA.

Still, the Trojans and the Wolverines spent the week talking about how happy they were to be in the Rose Bowl, even though the game was relegated to little more than exhibition status. That’s because the only game that matters will feature Ohio State and Florida next week in Glendale, Ariz.

All USC could do was come out and play its best, and it did. That was more than Michigan could say.

Henne finished with good numbers — 26-for-41 for 309 yards — but most of them came after the game was out of hand. He also got sacked six times. Hart finished with 47 yards, the first time he’s been held under 90 all year. Steve Breaston had seven catches for 115 yards and a late 41-yard score from Henne.

None, however, did much when it really mattered.

“We have this feeling about who we are and what we’re all about as we start next year’s preparation,” Carroll said. “We’ve taken a great step for the future, and it’s a very powerful statement for our program.”

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