1981 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 USC Trojans football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 13 14 9–3 5–2 John Robinson 6th R. C. Slocum 1st Marcus Allen Chip Banks Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Fiesta Bowl L 10–26 vs. Penn State The 1981 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth year under head coach John Robinson, the Trojans compiled a 9–3 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 284 to 170.Southern California Yearly Results (1980-1984) David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse July 20, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1980-1984_yearly_results.php July 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150722083955/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1980-1984_yearly_results.php dead Quarterback John Mazur led the team in passing, completing 93 of 194 passes for 1,128 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Marcus Allen led the team in rushing with 433 carries for 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jeff Simmons led the team in receiving yards with 28 catches for 543 yards and one touchdown.1981 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1981.html Allen became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season. He also gained a total of 2,683 offensive yards, led the nation in scoring, and won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award and was also the Pac-10 player of the year. Schedule 1981 AP September 12 w y 5 Tennessee Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA USA 43–7 62,147 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107855944/usc-puts-tennessee-to-rout-in-437-win/ The Los Angeles Times USC puts Tennessee to rout in 43–7 win September 13, 1981 August 18, 2022 Newspapers.com September 19 w y y 2 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN ONTV 21–0 51,167 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chronicle-tribune-allen-runs-through-iu/158341592/ Chronicle Tribune Allen runs through IU September 20, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w y 1 Oklahoma 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 28–24 85,651 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-usc-beats-oklahoma-in-la/158341660/ Chicago Tribune USC beats Oklahoma in last 2 seconds September 27, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 w y 1 Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR 56–22 33,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-allen-gains-233-yards/158334610/ The Roanoke Times Allen gains 233 yards as USC breezes 56–22 October 4, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 l 1 Arizona Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 10–13 56,315 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-arizona-jolts-u/158339508/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Arizona jolts USC off top October 11, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w y 7 Stanford Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 25–17 76,291 https://www.newspapers.com/article/mount-vernon-argus-usc-guns-down-stanfor/158338630/ Mount Vernon Argus USC guns down Stanford, 25–17 October 18, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w y y 5 Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 14–7 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-trojans-defeat-ir/158212344/ The Muskegon Chronicle Trojans defeat Irish in bout of heavyweights October 25, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w 4 Washington State 14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 41–17 60,972 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-allen-southern-cal/158341237/ The Macon Telegraph & News Allen, Southern Cal roll past Cougars 41–17 November 1, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 3 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 21–3 74,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-uscs-trojans-wear-d/158337651/ Santa Cruz Sentinel USC's Trojans wear down Cal November 8, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y 3 Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 3–13 47,347 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-usc-blown/158341765/ The San Bernardino County Sun USC 'blown out' in Seattle November 15, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w 10 UCLA 15 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell ABC 22–21 89,432 https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal-blocked-field-goal-cos/158340381/ Statesman Journal Blocked field goal costs UCLA November 22, 1981 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1982, 1982 l y y 8 Penn State 7 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ NBC Fiesta Bowl 10–26 71,053 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-penn-state-pounds-u/158217523/ The Arizona Republic Penn State pounds USC in Fiesta Bowl January 2, 1982 November 2, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 USC Trojans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 2, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1981-schedule.html Roster 1981 USC Trojans f 33 Sr Marcus Allen RB y Brad Anderson WR Mark Boyer TE Fred Cornwell TE Fred Crutcher RB 64 Sr Roy Foster Roy Foster (American football) OG y Anthony Gibson RB John Kamana RB Zephrini Lee RB 66 Jr Bruce Matthews C y 11 So John Mazur QB Bob McClanahan RB 22 So Malcolm Moore WR y Malcolm Moore (American football) 72 Jr Don Mosebar OT y 7 Fr Sean Salisbury QB y 29 Jr Jeff Simmons Jeff Simmons (American football) WR y So Tony Slaton OL y Todd Spencer RB 93 Jr Kelly Thomas OL 15 Jr Scott Tinsley QB y Timmie Ware WR Timmy White WR George Achica MG 51 Sr Chip Banks LB y Jeff Brown LB 47 Jr Joey Browner S y Keith Browner DL 87 Jr August Curley LB y 94 Jr Byron Darby DT y 52 Fr Jack Del Rio LB y Dennis Edwards DL John Harvey DL Neil Hope LB Tim Sullivan LB Joe Turner DB Charles Ussery DL Troy West DB Marv Williams DB 5 Fr Steve Jordan K Scott Livingston K Dave Pryor P *John Robinson 1981 USC Trojans Roster Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 2, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1981-roster.html Awards and honors Marcus Allen, Heisman Trophyhttp://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy 2007-04-16 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070411031301/http://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html 2007-04-11 Marcus Allen, Maxwell Award Marcus Allen, Walter Camp Awardhttp://collegefootball.about.com/od/collegefootballawards/a/award-camp.htm Football 2008-12-09 2011-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074829/http://collegefootball.about.com/od/collegefootballawards/a/award-camp.htm dead Marcus Allen, Pac-10 Player of the Year Marcus Allen, All-Pac-10http://football.about.com/cs/marcusallen/a/bl_marcusallen.htm Sports 2009-01-30 2008-12-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20081210121047/http://football.about.com/cs/marcusallen/a/bl_marcusallen.htm dead 1981 team players in the NFL Marcus Allen Chip Banks Joey Browner Keith Browner Fred Cornwell August Curley Byron Darby Jack Del Rio Dennis Edwards Riki Ellison John Harvey Michael Marper Bruce Matthews Don Mosebar Jeff Simmons Tony Slaton Kelly Thomas Joe Turner Troy West References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons USC Trojans football