The 3^rd ranked, 9-1 Ohio State Buckeyes of coach Woody Hayes came to Pasadena as Belt holders but John McKay’s top-ranked, 11-0 Southern Cal Trojans were clear favorites to take the title.  Although Ohio State had the national’s leading scorer in RB Champ Henson & All-American LB Randy Gradishar, the Buckeyes were no match for the bigger, faster Trojans.  One of the greatest college teams in history, Southern Cal had 23 players (including three NFL first-round draft picks) who moved on to professional football careers.  Southern Cal's RB Sam Cunningham’s four touchdown runs led to a 42-17 rout of the Buckeyes as Southern Cal claimed their first Belt championship.  The game was also noteworthy for a classic Hayes blow-up when he punched a Los Angeles Times photographer.  Cunningham scored the only points of the 1^st quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run.  Buckeyes' RB Randal Keith scored on a 1-yard touchdown run as Ohio State tied the score 7-7 at the half.  The 2^nd half saw the Trojans dominate the Buckeyes in every aspect of the game as the scored on their first 5 2^nd half possessions.  Southern Cal's QB Mike Rae connected with WR Lynn Swann on a 10-yard touchdown pass & Cunningham scored two touchdowns on 1-yard runs in the 3^rd quarter while Ohio State managed only a 21-yard field goal by PK Blair Conway as Southern Cal took a 28-10 lead to the 4^th quarter.  Cunningham’s fourth touchdown also came on a 1-yard run as the Trojans pushed the lead to 35-10.  Ohio State's RB John Bledsoe scored on a 5-yard touchdown run & Southern Cal's RB Anthony Davis finished the scoring with a 20-yard jaunt.  Rae finished with 229 yards passing with a touchdown, Swann had 6 catches for 108 yards with his score, & All-American TE Charles Young added 82 yards receiving.  Davis tallied 157 yards rushing with his score, & Cunningham rushed for just 38 yards but the 4 touchdowns.  The Buckeyes finished the season 9-2; Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 9^th nationally while Pac-8 champion Southern Cal claimed not only The Belt, but also the National Championship with a 12-0 record.  Ohio State would play for The Belt again in 1975.