[2] Both teams were in the running to meet in the 1982 Rose Bowl, but had their seasons spoiled on November 21, 1981, by their arch-rivals.
The defending 1981 Rose Bowl champion Wolverines, who were the preseason #1, opened with a loss to Wisconsin.
Also, losing the #1 ranking led to the Clemson Tigers winning their first consensus national championship.
Going into the UCLA–USC rivalry football game, The Rose Bowl was on the line for the third time for Terry Donahue's UCLA Bruins teams against USC.
UCLA lost to USC in a 21–20 nailbiter, which put Washington into the 1982 Rose Bowl.