The “Bush Push”: A College Football Play Still Debated 20 Years Later
Twenty years ago, a play occurred in a college football game between the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish that remains a topic of discussion and disagreement to this day.
In 2005, the No. 1 ranked USC Trojans traveled to South Bend, Indiana, to face the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game was close, with both teams exchanging leads. With just over two minutes left, Notre Dame took a 31-28 lead.
USC faced a difficult situation, needing to gain a lot of yards on fourth down to keep their drive alive. Quarterback Matt Leinart connected with receiver Dwayne Jarrett for a long pass, moving the Trojans into the red zone.
With the clock running down, Leinart attempted to run for a touchdown but lost control of the ball near the goal line. The clock appeared to run out, and Notre Dame players and fans rushed onto the field, thinking they had won.
However, after review, officials determined that Leinart had gone out of bounds before the clock expired and that seven seconds remained on the clock. USC was given one last chance from the 1-yard line.
Instead of kicking a field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime, Leinart decided to try and score a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. As Leinart attempted to push forward, running back Reggie Bush gave him an extra push, helping Leinart cross the goal line for a touchdown. USC won the game 34-31.
The play, known as the “Bush Push,” immediately sparked controversy. Many questioned whether Bush’s push was legal according to NCAA rules. At the time, the rules stated that a player could not push or assist a teammate to help them move forward.
While the rule existed, it was not often enforced. Whether or not the penalty should have been called remains a significant point of contention.
The outcome of the game had a major impact on both teams. USC continued their winning streak and went on to play in the national championship game, where they lost to the University of Texas. Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy that year, an award later forfeited due to NCAA violations.
Notre Dame’s loss affected their season, and they finished with a 9-3 record. The loss also marked the beginning of a losing streak for their coach, Charlie Weis, against USC.
Recently, Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn, the quarterbacks from that game, met again at Notre Dame Stadium. They playfully recreated the play, with Quinn jokingly throwing a penalty flag.
Even after 20 years, the “Bush Push” remains a memorable and debated moment in college football history.
