The last time Oregon State spent New Year's Day in Pasadena, in 1965, Joe Paterno was a year away taking over at Penn State.

What's the connection?

If No. 23 Oregon State and Paterno's seventh-ranked Nittany Lions win out, the Rose Bowl will be a rematch of Penn State's 45-14 rout of the Beavers in State College on Sept. 6.

It's enough to make Rose Bowl organizers contemplate jumping from the highest bridge over the Arroyo Seco.

Oregon State coach Mike Riley has other things to think about first — namely, a closing stretch against 6-3 California, 6-3 Arizona and 7-3 Oregon. But he wouldn't dread a rematch with Penn State.

"I think our players should have learned a ton more about themselves now," Riley said. "You know, that was a thorough beating, so it would be a great lesson in the rematch. There would be a ton of respect, but I don't think there would be fear in our team, which would be a good thing because we have been through a lot since then."

The Beavers are 6-1 since the wipeout in (un)Happy Valley — and the loss came on a last-second field goal at Utah, which has climbed to No. 7 in the Bowl Championship Series standings.