Bill and Jeff,
Is the Rose Bowl a no go because of the venue, either getting in or out or poor seating or sight lines? Or is it because UCLA has been so awful for years now! 
I only ask because Utah may play in the Rose Bowl for the first time ever this year and I'm thinking I may go.
Kalen
It's the most beautiful setting for college football in the country, especially late afternoon when the stadium is getting dark, but the sun is still lighting up the San Gabriels. But ugh, the Bruins have been terrible recently (though there are some signs of life if you know where to look this year).
It's a great event, and you should definitely go if your team is playing. I went year after year as a kid, but it was on a free ticket from working the VIP parking concession. In this case "free" meant "terrible". Like first row, 25 yard line, which sounds great, until you realize you're sitting field level behind 80 guys who are all 6'5". Still fun to be in the building. I did get to see Rodney Peete fumble right in front of me in 1988 sealing a win for George Perles and Michigan State, my dad's alma mater. The Rose Bowl will always be special to me. I grew up about 15 minutes away. My grandparents lived maybe a mile or two down Arroyo Boulevard, just south of California Boulevard.
Watching Illinois get trounced against hated SC in 2008 was the first time I actually watched the game from good seats. I went back a couple years later to watc Wisconsin lose to TCU when may main rooting interest was for "no overtime". 50 degrees isn't cold per se, but it is when you're dressed for 65 degrees. Still, it's a venue everyone should visit at least once.