1978 USC Trojans football team

American college football season November 2022 February 2026 1978 USC Trojans football USC Trojans logo.svg 122 × 182 Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 1 2 12–1 6–1 John Robinson 3rd Lynn Cain Rich Dimler Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Coaches Poll national championPac-10 championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 17–10 vs. Michigan The 1978 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. Following the season, the Trojans were crowned national champions according to the Coaches Poll. While Alabama claimed the AP Poll title because it had defeated top-ranked Penn State in the Sugar Bowl, the Trojans felt they deserved the title since they had defeated Alabama and Notre Dame during the regular season, and then Michigan in the Rose Bowl.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31539629/usc_claims_title/ USC Claims Title The Evening Sun Baltimore, Maryland C7 January 2, 1979 May 13, 2019 newspapers.com Both USC and Alabama ended their seasons with a single loss. This would be the last national championship won by the Trojans until 2003. Schedule 1978 AP September 9 w y 9 Texas Tech Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 17–9 50,321 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-usc-booed-then-tips-tech/157507830/ The Columbian USC booed, then tips Tech September 10, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 w y 8 Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 37–10 31,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-white-defense-make-dif/157655990/ The Daily Breeze White, defense make difference September 17, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w y y 7 Alabama 1 Legion Field Birmingham, AL 24–14 77,313 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-usc-has-no-1-bam/134307794/ Los Angeles Times USC has No. 1 'Bama on the run, 24–14 September 24, 1978 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 29, 1978 w y 3 Michigan State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 30–9 65,319 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-trojans-roll-past-s/157582024/ The Arizona Republic Trojans roll past Spartans October 1, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 l y 2 Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ 7–20 70,138 https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-county-times-arizona-state-shocks/157700446/ The Blade-Tribune Arizona State shocks USC, 20–7 October 15, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w y 7 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 38–7 53,734 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-southern-cal-rips-oregon-sta/157655397/ Daily Press Southern Cal rips Oregon State 38–7 October 22, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w 6 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 42–17 56,954 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-mcdonald-td-passes-help/157699265/ The Miami Herald McDonald TD passes help USC maul Bears October 29, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 6 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry 13–7 84,084 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-did-stanford/157700094/ The San Francisco Examiner Did Stanford let USC have game? November 5, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w 5 Washington 19 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 28–10 54,071 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-usc-has-to-win-and/157701104/ The Los Angeles Times USC has to win and does November 12, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w y 5 UCLA 14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 17–10 90,387 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-usc-rips-ucla-for-ros/157701543/ The Sacramento Bee USC rips UCLA for Roses November 19, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 w y 3 Notre Dame 8 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 27–25 84,256 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-jordan-provides-punc/157641826/ Ventura County Star & Free Press Jordan provides punch for Irish wake November 26, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com December 2 w y y 3 Hawaii Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI 21–5 48,767 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-hawaii-makes-usc-s/157639549/ The Los Angeles Times Hawaii makes USC sweat before surrndering, 21–5 December 3, 1978 October 23, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1979, 1979 w y y 3 Michigan 5 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 17–10 105,629 USC Wins Rose Bowl but the Replay's a Tie: White Scores (or Did He?) as Trojans Beat Michigan, 17-10 Los Angeles Times Mal Florence January 2, 1979 III-1, III-10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41899206/usc_wins_rose_bowl_but_the_replays_a/ Newspapers.comPhantom TD helps Southern Cal -- Michigan's Roses wilt again, 17-10 Detroit Free Press Tom Henderson January 2, 1979 1D, 5D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9333611/phantom_td_helps_southern_cal/ Newspapers.com 1978 USC Trojans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 23, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1978-schedule.html Game summaries Notre Dame Notre Dame 3 0 3 19 USC 6 11 7 3 November 25 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles 84,256 yes 1 USC Williams 50-yard pass from McDonald (kick failed) USC 6–0 1 ND Unis 47-yard field goal USC 6–3 2 USC Garcia 35-yard pass from McDonald (McDonald to Hunter pass) USC 14–3 2 USC Jordan 39-yard field goal USC 17–3 3 ND Unis 26-yard field goal USC 17–6 3 7:38 USC White 1-yard run (Jordan kick) USC 24–6 4 12:26 ND Haines 57-yard pass from Montana (pass failed) USC 24–12 4 3:01 ND Buchanan 1-yard run (Unis kick) USC 24–19 4 0:46 ND Holohan 2-yard pass from Montana (pass failed) ND 25–24 4 0:02 USC Jordan 37-yard field goal USC 27–25 yes "Trojans' Late Field Goal Stymies Irish Comeback." Palm Beach Post. 1978 Nov 26. Rose Bowl 1979 Rose Bowl 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed Rose Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. USC Trojans January 1 Monday Michigan 0 3 7 0 USC 7 10 0 0 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California 105,629 NBC Curt Gowdy, John Brodie, and O.J. Simpson Recap/Box First quarter USC – Hoby Brenner 9-yard pass from Paul McDonald (Frank Jordan kick). USC 7–0. Drive: Second quarter MICH – Gregg Willner 36-yard field goal. USC 7–3. Drive: USC – Charles White 3-yard run (Frank Jordan kick). USC 14–3. Drive: USC – Frank Jordan 35-yard field goal. USC 17–3. Drive: Third quarter MICH – R. Smith 44-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick). USC 17–10. Drive: Top passers MICH – Rick Leach – 10/21, 137 yards, TD, 2 INT USC – Paul McDonald – 4/9, 23 yards, TD Top rushers MICH – Russell Davis – 8 rushes, 28 yards USC – Charles White – 32 rushes, 99 yards, TD Top receivers MICH – Roosevelt Smith – 4 receptions, 58 yards, TD USC – Dan Garcia – 1 reception, 12 yards Roster 1978 USC Trojans y Fr Marcus Allen RB y So Hoby Brenner TE y Jr Brad Budde OL y Jr Ray Butler WR y Ray Butler (American football) 21 Sr Lynn Cain RB y C Paul DiLulo RB Dwight Ford RB Dan Garcia WR Michael Hayes WR n Pat Howell OL y James Hunter TE Jr Paul McDonald QB y Paul McDonald (American football) Jr Anthony Muñoz OL y Otis Page OL Ray Peters OL Rob Preston QB Vic Rakhshani TE Walt Ransom QB Sr Calvin Sweeney WR y So Keith Van Horne OL y Jr Charles White RB y Charles White (American football) So Kevin Williams WR y Kevin Williams (wide receiver, born 1958) Fr Chip Banks DL y 47 Sr Larry Braziel DB y Gary Cobb DL y Willie Crawford DB 92 Sr Rich Dimler DL C y Dennis Edwards DL y Riki Ellison LB y Sr Carter Hartwig DB y 56 Sr Dennis Johnson Dennis Johnson (linebacker) LB y 96 Sr Myron Lapka DT y Tim Lavender DB 42 So Ronnie Lott S y 58 Jr Mike McDonald LB 57 Jr Larry McGrew LB y Charlie Moses LB Eric Scoggins LB y So Dennis Smith DB y Dennis Smith (American football) Ty Sperling DL Herb Ward DB Frank Jordan K Marty King P John Robinson 1978 Trojans in the NFL All 22 starters played in the NFL.https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700121684/Whats-in-a-name-Bobby-Salazar-knows.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110326151947/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700121684/Whats-in-a-name-Bobby-Salazar-knows.html dead March 26, 2011 Vai's View: What's in a name? Bobby Salazar knows Sikahema Vai 2011-03-25 Deseret News 2019-02-13 en Marcus Allen Chip Banks Lynn Cain Rich Dimler Ronnie Lott Anthony Muñoz Charles White Brad Budde Garry Cobb Larry Braziel Paul McDonald Riki Gray Ray Butler Steve Busick Keith Van Horne Dennis Smith Allen, Lott, and Muñoz are the only three starters on the team enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons USC Trojans football