 Less than three weeks before the game , USC Trojan Reggie Bush won the Heisman trophy — since vacated — ahead of second place finisher Vince Young . Bush had the second highest number of first place votes in Heisman history ( behind O.J. Simpson ) and the highest percentage of first place votes , while Young had a record number of second place votes . Bush 's 933 @-@ point margin of victory was the 17th highest in the history of the Heisman voting . The third finalist was USC 's Matt Leinart , who won the Heisman trophy in 2004 . This Rose Bowl would mark the first time two Heisman trophy winners would ever play in the same backfield . 
