1976 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 USC Trojans football Pacific-8 Conference Pac-8 2 2 11–1 7–0 John Robinson 1st Ricky Bell Vince Evans Eric Williams Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum National champion (multiple selectors)Pac-8 championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 14–6 vs. Michigan The 1976 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their first year under head coach John Robinson, the Trojans compiled an 11–1 record (7–0 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) championship, defeated Michigan in the 1977 Rose Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 386 to 139.Southern California Yearly Results (1975-1979) David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse July 20, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1975-1979_yearly_results.php July 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150722091221/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1975-1979_yearly_results.php dead The team was ranked #2 in both the final AP Poll and the final UPI Coaches Poll. Quarterback Vince Evans led the team in passing, completing 95 of 177 passes for 1,440 yards with ten touchdowns and six interceptions. Ricky Bell led the team in rushing with 280 carries for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns. Shelton Diggs led the team in receiving with 37 catches for 655 yards and eight touchdowns.1976 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1976.html The team was named national champion by Berryman, Billingsley MOV, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, and Matthews, all NCAA-designated major selectors.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 Indianapolis October 4, 2018114 Schedule 1976 AP September 11 l y 8 Missouri Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 25–46 49,535 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-usc-beaten-from-he/181037300/ The Los Angeles Times USC beaten from here to Tampa, 46–25 September 12, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 w y Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 53–0 40,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-aroused-trojans-rip-duck/180976380/ Tri-City Herald Aroused Trojans rip Ducks September 19, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 w y y 19 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 31–13 65,425 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-southern-cal-downs-purdue/181037354/ The Lima News Southern Cal downs Purdue September 26, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 w y 13 Iowa Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 55–0 55,518 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-sub-backs-spark-usc/181037420/ The Sunday Oregonian Sub backs spark USC's rout October 3, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 w y 11 Washington State Kingdome Seattle, WA 23–14 37,268 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-wsu-scares-usc-bell-sets/181035445/ The Columbian WSU scares USC, Bell sets record October 10, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 w y 7 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 56–0 53,216 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-usc-sends/180976047/ The San Bernardino County Sun-Telegram USC sends Oregon St. reeling, 56–0 October 24, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w 4 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 20–6 60,323 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-no-4-usc-wins-206/181036502/ The Billings Gazette No. 4 USC wins 20–6 October 31, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w y 4 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry 48–24 76,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-no-bell-but-usc-stil/181036859/ The Sacramento Bee No Bell, but USC still ringer November 7, 1976 September 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 w 3 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 20–3 49,264 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-usc-defeats-huskies/181036082/ The Columbian USC defeats Huskies November 14, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 w y 3 UCLA 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell ABC 24–14 90,519 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-uscs-power-knocks-out/181037184/ The Daily Breeze USC's power knocks out UCLA November 21, 1976 September 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 27 w y 3 Notre Dame 13 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry ABC 17–13 76,561 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-usc-trips-irish-1713/180957606/ The Times Recorder USC trips Irish 17–13 November 28, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1977 w y y 3 Michigan 2 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 14–6 106,182 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-evans-passing-put/181037574/ The Los Angeles Times Evans' passing puts Michigan on the run January 2, 1977 September 13, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Missouri January 2021 At Oregon January 2021 At Purdue USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed #19 USC Trojans (1–1) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–1) September 25 USC 7 0 14 10 Purdue 7 0 6 0 Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana 65,425 Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Sep 26. Retrieved 2018-Sep-23."U.S.C. Crushes Purdue 31-13; Bell 177 yards." New York Times. 1976 Sep 26. Retrieved 2021-Jan-05. First quarter USC – Mosi Tatupu 1-yard run (Glen Walker kick). USC 7–0. Drive: PUR – Scott Dierking 2-yard run (Turner kick). Tie 7–7. Drive: Second quarter No scoring Third quarter USC – Ricky Bell 5-yard run (Glen Walker kick). USC 14–7. Drive: USC – Simmrin 4-yard pass from Vince Evans (Glen Walker kick). USC 21–7. Drive: PUR – Skibinski 1-yard run (kick failed). USC 21–13. Drive: Fourth quarter USC – Mosi Tatupu 27-yard run (Glen Walker kick). USC 28–13. Drive: USC – Glen Walker 44-yard field goal. USC 31–13. Drive: Top passers USC – Vince Evans – 168 yards, TD PUR Top rushers USC – Ricky Bell – 37 rushes, 177 yards, TD PUR Top receivers USC PUR Iowa January 2021 At Washington State USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed #11 USC Trojans (3–1) at Washington State Cougars (1–3) October 9 USC 0 14 0 9 Washington State 0 7 0 7 Kingdome, Seattle, Washington 37,268 Indoors (dome) "Bell runs for 346 as USC clips Cougars." Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 OCt 10. Retrieved 2018-Dec-29. First quarter No scoring Second quarter USC – Ricky Bell 1-yard run (Glen Walker kick). USC 7–0. Drive: USC – Shelton Diggs 55-yard pass from Vince Evans (Glen Walker kick, 6:23. USC 14–0. Drive: WSU – Harold Gillum 4-yard run (Chuck Diedrick kick). USC 14–7. Drive: Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter WSU – Brian Kelly 23-yard pass from Jack Thompson (Chuck Diedrick kick). Tie 14–14. Drive: USC – Glen Walker 26-yard field goal, 9:26. USC 17–14. Drive: USC – Ricky Bell 9-yard run (kick failed). USC 23–14. Drive: Top passers USC WSU – Jack Thompson – 26/48, 341 yards, TD Top rushers USC – Ricky Bell – 51 rushes, 346 yards, 2 TD WSU Top receivers USC WSU Oregon State January 2021 California January 2021 At Stanford January 2021 Washington January 2021 Vs. UCLA January 2021 Notre Dame USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8–2) at #3 USC Trojans (9–1) November 27 Notre Dame 0 0 0 13 USC 0 7 7 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California 76,561 ABC Recap/Box First quarter No scoring Second quarter USC – Shelton Diggs 6-yard pass from Rob Hertel (Glen Walker kick). USC 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 67 yards. Third quarter USC – Randy Simmrin 63-yard pass from Vince Evans (Glen Walker kick), 13:30. USC 14–0. Drive: Fourth quarter ND – Vagas Ferguson 17-yard pass from Rusty Lisch (Dave Reeve kick), 14:06. USC 14–7. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards. USC – Glen Walker 46-yard field goal. USC 17–7. Drive: ND – Rusty Lisch 1-yard run (two-point conversion failed). USC 17–13. Drive: 76 yards. Top passers ND USC – Vince Evans – 6/14, 106 yards, TD Top rushers ND USC – Ricky Bell – 21 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers ND USC – Randy Simmrin – 6 receptions, 121 yards, TD Ricky Bell was held to 75 yards on 21 carries but USC's passing game thrived with Vince Evans completing six of his 14 passes for 106 yards with Randy Simmrin hauling in six passes for 121 yards and Evans' touchdown pass. Trojans Trip Up Error-Prone Irish https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EZBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AAYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6998%2C6794450 Ocala Star-Banner November 28, 1976 November 22, 2014 Rose Bowl (vs Michigan) January 2021 Roster 1976 USC Trojans f 42 Sr Ricky Bell Ricky Bell (running back) RB y Gary Bethel OL y Brad Budde OL y 21 Jr Lynn Cain RB y 26 Sr Shelton Diggs WR y 8 Sr Vince Evans QB y Dave Farmer RB 86 Jr William Gay William Gay (defensive lineman) TE y 6 Jr Rob Hertel QB y 61 Sr Donnie Hickman OG y Kurt Hollmer RB 66 So Pat Howell OG y Vic Jackson RB Paul McDonald Paul McDonald (American football) QB y Jim Obradovich TE Otis Page OL Marvin Powell Marvin Powell OL y Ken Randle WR Mike Robinson WR 18 Jr Randy Simmrin WR y Bernard Tarver RB Mosi Tatupu Mosi Tatupu RB y 12 Fr Charles White Charles White (American football) RB y 44 Sr Mike Burns Mike Burns (American football) CB y Ron Bush DB 58 Jr Mario Celotto LB y 85 So Garry Cobb LB y 92 So Rich Dimler DT y Ed Gutierrez DL Carter Hartwig DB y 79 Sr Gary Jeter DT y 96 So Myron Lapka DT y 57 Sr David Lewis Dave Lewis (linebacker) LB y 52 Sr Rod Martin LB y 60 Jr Clay Matthews Clay Matthews Jr. LB y Ricky Odom DB y Harold Steele DL Clint Strozier DB Dennis Thurman DB y Walt Underwood DL Vinny Van Dyke DL Eric Williams DL Glen Walker K P y *John Robinson (1st year) https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1976-roster.html 2021-Jan-04 References External links Game program: USC vs. Washington State at Seattle – October 9, 1976 USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons USC Trojans football