1959 Rose Bowl

Iowa's star halfback Bob Jeter was named the Player of the Game.

It was the sixth straight Rose Bowl win for the Big Ten, and the twelfth of the last thirteen.

[3] The PCC disbanded in the spring and five of its members formed the new AAWU (Big Five), while the other four competed as independents for several years.

[1] Sixteenth-ranked California, led by quarterback Joe Kapp, entered the game as Pacific Coast Conference champions with a record of 7–3 (6–1 PCC).

Iowa attempted a Rose Bowl record three two-point conversions and failed on all three, while Bob Prescott made one of two extra points.