PASADENA, Calif. -- Stanford made its case Friday as the most improved team nationally, from start to finish of this season, with a 45-16 romp of fifth-ranked Iowa in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.
Billed as a battle of similar, physical styles between the Pac-12 champion and runner-up from the Big Ten, this 102nd edition of the Granddaddy of Them All quickly spiraled into an epic mismatch.
The Cardinal led 35-0 at halftime and 38-3 after three quarters.
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, second in the Heisman Trophy voting, took a short pass from Kevin Hogan on the first play from scrimmage and raced 75 yards to score a touchdown 11 seconds into the game.