The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel, who tossed the game coin by their representative Grand Marshal J.R. Martinez.[4] Because of sponsorship by Vizio, the first game in the 2012 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled the Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio. The contest was televised on ESPN with a radio broadcast on ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio, which began at 1:30 p.m. (PST) with kickoff at 2:10 p.m. (PST).
The Rose Bowl Game, themed Just Imagine ..., was a contractual sell-out, with 64,500 tickets allocated to the participating teams and conferences. The remaining tickets went to the Tournament of Roses members, sponsors, City of Pasadena residents, and the general public. On September 8, 2011, Executive Director P. Scott McKibben resigned for personal reasons. William B. Flinn, the Tournament’s longstanding chief operating officer, assumed the role of interim executive director.[5]
The bands and cheerleaders from both schools participated in the early morning Rose Parade on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California along with the floats, featuring stars and giant helmets, from the two conferences.
Teams
Teams playing in the Rose Bowl game were the winners of the Pac-12 and Big Ten conference championship games, unless one team (or both teams) play in the BCS National Championship game. The teams were officially selected by the football committee of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association on Selection Sunday on December 4, 2011.
The Ducks were led by LaMichael James in scoring with 19 touchdowns and 114 points in 11 games. Oregon was ranked 3rd in the nation in points scored (46.2 points per game) and 5th in rushing yards (295.7). Coming into the game, Oregon had held opponents to 23.6 points per game and allowed 243.5 yards in pass defense and 137.5 yards per game in rush defense. Combining the rushing yardage with the passing offense of 219.5 yards per game, the Ducks had a total offense of 515.2 yards per game.
Wisconsin, winning 11 games and losing 2 during the season, had the best offense in the Big Ten, scoring 80 touchdowns, 7 field goals for a total of 580 points. Wisconsin was ranked 4th in the nation in scoring (44.6 points per game) and 10th in rushing yards (237.4). The Badgers had limited opponents to just 17 points per game, 155 yards in passing and 138 yards in rushing. The team had passed for 229.5 yards per game for a total offense of 466.9 yards in total offense. Russell Wilson broke the FBS record for overall passer rating in a season.
Game notes
The game was played on Monday due to the association's policy not to play on Sunday.
Game ticket prices had increased to $175 for seats and $150 each for bench seats (end zones).
Phase one of the Rose Bowl renovation was completed in 2011 with the addition of new video scoreboards and widening of south end tunnels.
Oregon's victory was its first win in the Rose Bowl game since its participation in the 1917 Rose Bowl.
The 83 points scored in this game broke the previous Rose Bowl record of 80 points which had stood for over twenty years (set in the 1991 Rose Bowl). Coincidentally, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema participated in both of these record-setting games, having played for Iowa in the 1991 game. This record would be broken in the 2017 Rose Bowl where a total of 101 points were scored.
