71 Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football
July 31, 2024
USC Football Fun Facts for Your Next Tailgate – The University of Southern California Trojans are preparing for another thrilling season, marked by unprecedented changes in the program鈥檚 history. Having been a member of the Pac-12 Conference since 1922, the Trojans will now be joining the Big Ten Conference. This move represents a historic shift, altering long-standing traditions and rivalries.
Want to go to USC? Check out our tips on How to Get Into USC: Acceptance Rate & Strategies.
Furthermore, over the past three seasons, the program has been defined by Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams.聽 Williams was the top overall pick in this year鈥檚 NFL Draft and he leaves behind a massive legacy as one of USC鈥檚 all-time greats.
With new changes come new opportunities. To gear up for the upcoming USC season, check out a list below of interesting USC football facts.
1) The USC Trojans football team was founded in 1888
USC played its inaugural game on November 14, 1888 against the Alliance Athletic Club 16-0, marking the beginning of its storied history.
2) The Trojans won its first conference championship in 1927.
Under coach Howard Jones, USC captured the Pacific Coast Conference title.聽 Coach Jones led the Trojans from 1925鈥�1940 and amassed a record of 121-36, including winning four national championships.聽 Under his leadership, he helped establish USC as a football powerhouse for decades to come.
3) USC claimed its first national championship in 1928
In their first national championship season, the Trojans went 9-0-1 and outscored opponents 267-59.’
Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football (Continued)
4) The Trojans have played in the Rose Bowl 34 times
Their first appearance was in 1923, and they have won 25 Rose Bowl games 鈥� the most by any team in college football.
5) Lincoln Riley is the current USC Trojans head coach.
Riley is starting his third season as head coach.聽 He has a career record of 19-8, and last year finished the season with a 42-28 victory over #16-ranked Louisville in the Holiday Bowl.聽 USC quarterback Miller Moss and safety Jaylin Smith were voted the game MVPs.
Prior to Lincoln Riley, the Trojans were led by head coach Clay Helton.
Helton coached USC for seven years before he was fired after a Week 2 loss to Stanford in 2021.聽 He is now the head coach of the Sun Belt鈥檚 Georgia Southern.
6) The last time USC was ranked #1 in the AP Poll was 2012.
The Trojans – lead by head coach Lane Kiffin – opened the season as the top team in the country.聽 However, they had a disappointing season and finished 7-6.
7) Their most recent National Championship was in 2004
Led by head coach Pete Carroll, the Trojans went 13-0 and crushed Oklahoma 55-19 in the BCS Championship.聽 The offense was led by Heisman-winning quarterback Matt Leinart and superstar running back Reggie Bush.聽 In 2010, USC was forced to vacate two wins from its 2004 season, including its Orange Bowl victory.聽 However, this season still lives on in the minds of USC fans.
Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football (Continued)
8) USC claims 11 national championships over it鈥檚 136-year history
This mark is the third most across all programs in college football.
9) The program has an all-time record of 875-368-54
This winning percentage is the eighth best among all college football programs.
10) USC has spent over 813 weeks in the AP Poll since its inception in 1936.
This ranks sixth among all college football programs.
11) 84 consensus All-Americans have played for USC, which ranks fifth all-time across the college football landscape.
12) USC has had 40 consensus first-team All-American quarterbacks, which speaks to Trojans鈥� quarterback legacy.
13) The Trojans have had at least one player selected in the NFL Draft for 69 consecutive years. This is the longest active streak of any college football program.
USC has had 531 players selected in the NFL Draft, which ranks second among all college football teams.
14) USC has produced more NFL first-round draft picks than any other university. As of 2024, 85 Trojans have been selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
15) USC is tied with Notre Dame for producing the most Pro Football Hall of Famers.
The Trojans have produced 14 NFL Hall of Famers: Marcus Allen, Morris Badgro, Frank Gifford, Ronnie Lott, Bruce Matthews, Ron Mix, Anthony Mu帽oz, Troy Polamalu, Junior Seau, O.J. Simpson, Lynn Swann, Willie Wood, Ron Yary, and Tony Boselli.
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16) Southern Cal is second (behind Notre Dame) for the number of College Football Hall of Famers with 35.
17) The Trojans have retired only six jersey numbers in their history. These belong to Mike Garrett (#20), Charles White (#12), O.J. Simpson (#32), Marcus Allen (#33), Jon Arnett (#26), and Junior Seau (#55).
18) USC has produced 8 Heisman Trophy winners, which is the most of any school in college football
The winners are: Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), Reggie Bush (2005, later vacated), and Caleb Williams (2022).
19) The Trojans have had 17 different players finish in the top 5 of Heisman Trophy voting.
20) USC has had 13 players win major national awards other than the Heisman Trophy. These include the Maxwell Award, the Biletnikoff Award, and the Thorpe Award.
21) Quarterback Caleb Williams is the most recent USC superstar and was the first overall draft pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The quarterback holds a host of USC all-time records, including single-season record for total offense (4,919 yards), most touchdowns scored rushing and passing (52), passing completions (333), passes attempted (500), most passing yards gained (4,537), most touchdown passes thrown (42), and highest passing efficiency rating (168.5)
22) USC has had at least one first-round NFL draft pick in 20 of the last 25 years.
Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football (Continued)
23) The Trojans have had their share of notable head coaches, but the winnest head coach in program history is John McKay.
McKay coached from 1960-1975 and won 127 games – the most in program history.聽 He had a winning percentage of 0.749, and he also won 4 national championships (1962, 1967, 1972, 1974).
24) Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll achieved stardom at USC as head coach from 2001-2009
Carroll won 2 national championships (2003 and 2004) and had a winning percentage of .836.
25) USC鈥檚 home stadium is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which holds 77,500.
Opened in 1923, it is the only stadium in the world to have hosted two Olympic Games (1932 and 1984), the NFL鈥揂FL Championship Game in 1967, one Super Bowls (1973), and a World Series (1959).
26) Prior to its 2019 renovation, the Coliseum鈥檚 seating capacity used to be over 93,000, which made it one of the largest stadiums in the country.
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27) The Coliseum features a distinctive peristyle arch and torch at its east end. The torch, known as the Olympic Torch, was first lit for the 1932 Olympics and has been ceremonially lit for various events since then, including USC football games.
28) The white horse mascot that gallops around the field after touchdowns is named Traveler and he is the official mascot of USC.
Traveler is ridden by a Trojan warrior in traditional armor and has been a symbol of USC since 1961.
29) The tradition began when Richard Saukko rode his white horse, Traveler I, in the 1961 Rose Parade.
USC officials were so impressed that they asked Saukko to ride during home games. Since then, there have been multiple horses that have served as Traveler, with each new horse continuing the legacy. The current Traveler is the eighth in the lineage.
30) Contrary to popular belief, the rider dressed as a Trojan warrior is not a USC student or mascot performer. Instead, USC hires professional equestrians to ride Traveler during games and events.
Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football (Continued)
31) “Fight On” is USC’s official fight song.
Composed in 1922 by Milo Sweet, it is played by the Trojan Marching Band at games and events, embodying the fighting spirit of USC. Sweet was studying dentistry at USC at the time he wrote the song.
32) One of USC鈥檚 biggest rivalries is against UCLA in the battle for the Victory Bell – a 295-pound bell, originally from a Southern Pacific railroad locomotive.
The teams first played each other in 1929 and USC holds the all-time series lead with a record of 50-34-7. Fortunately, UCLA is also making the move to the Big Ten Conference this season, so this rivalry will continue.
33) The 1967 matchup between USC and UCLA has been dubbed the 鈥淕ame of the Century鈥�
The UCLA Bruins, boasting a 7鈥�0鈥�1 record and ranked No. 1, faced off against the USC Trojans, who were 8鈥�1 and ranked No. 4. Senior quarterback Gary Beban of UCLA and junior running back O. J. Simpson of USC were both Heisman Trophy candidates. Simpson鈥檚 64-yard run for the winning touchdown is celebrated as one of the greatest run plays in college football history.
Trojans (Continued)
34) From 1999-2003, USC won five straight games against UCLA – the longest streak in the rivalry鈥檚 nearly 100-year history.
35) Many consider Notre Dame to be USC鈥檚 biggest rivalry.
This matchup began in 1926.聽 The game has been played every year since, with the exception of 1943鈥�1945 when it was canceled during World War II and in 2020 when it was canceled due to Covid.聽 The teams play for the Jeweled Shillelagh trophy, which is an Irish club made of oak or blackthorn saplings from Ireland. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51鈥�38鈥�5.
36) From 2002-2009, the Trojans beat the Fighting Irish seven times in a row, which is the longest win streak for USC in the rivalry鈥檚 history.
37) During that same streak, USC beat Notre Dame 38-0 in 2007.聽 That is USC鈥檚 largest margin of victory in the rivalry鈥檚 history.
The largest margin of victory for Notre Dame is 51-0, which was set in 1966.
38) The rivalry between USC and Stanford is known as the “Clash of the Coliseum.”
This matchup dates back to 1905 and the Trojans lead the all-time series 64-34-3.
Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football (Continued)
39) USC won 12 straight games against Stanford from 1958-1969.聽 This marks USC鈥檚 longest win streak in the rivalry鈥檚 history.
Stanford鈥檚 longest streak is only 4 games, from 2009-2012.
40) USC’s longest winning streak against a single opponent is 26 games against California. This streak lasted from 1967 to 2000.
41) Although not as well known, USC and Oregon have developed a rivalry of sorts, having faced off in Pac-12 matchups quasi-regularly for nearly 70 years.
USC holds the all-time series lead with a record of 38-23-2.
42) USC’s largest margin of victory was a 103-0 win over Whittier College in 1912. This game remains one of the most lopsided victories in college football history.
43) Tommy Trojan is an iconic symbol of USC pride.
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Located at the heart of USC’s campus, the bronze statue was unveiled in 1930 and is a popular meeting spot on campus.
44) Adopted in 1895, cardinal and gold are the official colors of USC athletics.
45) The Trojan Marching Band is nicknamed “The Spirit of Troy.”
The band has performed at numerous high-profile events, including the Academy Awards and the Olympics.聽 In 1979, Fleetwood Mac invited the USC Marching Band to perform 鈥楾usk鈥� on their 12th album, which was the band鈥檚 first platinum album.
46) In USC slang, a 鈥淧erfect Day鈥� is when USC wins and Notre Dame and UCLA both lose.
47) The USC Song Girls are the name of a spirit squad that supports the Trojans.
Established in 1967, the Song Girls perform at football games, basketball games, and other university events.
Fun Facts about USC Trojan Football (Continued)
48) Card Stunts are performed by the student section during home football games.
The routines are coordinated displays using colored cards to create large images and messages in the stands, which is a tradition dating back to the 1950s.
49) George Tirebiter was the name of a stray dog who became the team鈥檚 unofficial mascot in the 1940s-50s.
Tirebiter was a beloved figure at USC, leading the team onto the field and even biting a UCLA Bruin mascot!
50) Southern Cal鈥檚 longest win streak was 34 games, from 2003 to 2005.
This streak included two national championships and ended with a loss to Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
51) USC has won the Pac-12 Championship 37 times, the most in the conference’s history.
With the Trojans moving to the Big Ten this year and subsequent dissolution of the Pac-12, USC will forever go down as the Pac-12鈥檚 ultimate powerhouse.
52) USC joined the Pac-12 in 1922.
Facts You Didn’t Know About USC Trojan Football (Continued)
53) The Trojans have a winning record against every Pac-12 team they’ve faced.
54) Over the course of the program鈥檚 history, Southern Cal has had five unbeaten seasons (1928, 1932, 1962, 1972, and 2004).
55) USC’s 1932 team, known as the “Thundering Herd,” didn’t allow a single point until their final game of the season. This dominant defense helped the Trojans secure their second national championship under coach Howard Jones.
56) USC’s 1962 national championship team featured the “Wild Bunch” defensive line. This fearsome defensive unit, which included future NFL stars like Willie Brown and Gary Pettigrew, helped the Trojans allow just 55 points all season.
57) The Trojans’ 1972 national championship team is considered one of the best in college football history. They went 12-0 and outscored opponents by an average of 27 points per game.
58) The 1972 Trojans capped their perfect season with a dominant Rose Bowl victory. USC defeated #3 Ohio State 42-17 in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1973.
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59) Given the school鈥檚 location in Los Angeles, many celebrities are avid USC fans.
The list of celebrity fans includes Will Ferrell, Snoop Dogg, and John Wayne.
60) John Wayne played offensive tackle for USC鈥檚 before leaving school to become a movie star.
61) Marcus Allen holds the single-season rushing record with 2,427 yards in 1981.
Allen’s remarkable season earned him the Heisman Trophy and remains one of the best performances in college football history.
62) Charles White holds the career rushing record with 6,245 yards from 1976 to 1979.
White’s relentless running style earned him the Heisman Trophy in 1979.
Fun Facts about USC Trojan Football (Continued)
63) Caleb Williams set the single-season record with 4,537 passing yards in 2022.
Williams’ outstanding performance in 2022 showcased his precision and leadership, earning him accolades and recognition as one
64) Matt Barkley holds the career passing yards record with 12,327 yards from 2009 to 2012.
65) Marqise Lee set the single-season receiving record with 1,721 yards in 2012.
Lee’s exceptional season earned him the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.聽 Lee also holds the USC career receiving record with 3,655 yards from 2011 to 2013.
66) LenDale White holds the single-season rushing touchdown record with 24 rushing touchdowns in 2005.
White also holds the all-time rushing touchdown record with 52 touchdowns from 2003 to 2005.
Trojans (Continued)
67) Caleb Williams set the single season record with 42 passing touchdowns in 2022.
68) Matt Barkley holds the career passing touchdowns record with 116 touchdowns from 2009 to 2012.
69) In addition to its football prowess, USC has a history of producing elite olympic athletes.
Southern Cal has produced 423 olympians – the most of any university. These athletes have captured 288 total medals.
70) The Academy Awards were created in 1929, and a USC alumnus has been nominated for an Oscar every year since.
That鈥檚 not football 鈥� but still impressive!
71) Quarterback Matt Barkley certainly made his mark on the football field but he also was the 2012 recipient of the
The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.
Fun Facts about USC Trojan Football – Additional Resources
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