2002 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 2002 USC Trojans USC Trojans logo.svg 100 Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 4 4 11–2 7–1 Pete Carroll 2nd Norm Chow 2nd Pro-style 4–3 Carson Palmer Troy Polamalu Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (c. 92,000, grass) National champion(Dunkel, Matthews, Sagarin)Pac-10 co-championOrange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W 38–17 vs. Iowa The 2002 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. USC ended the regular season ranked #5 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. Trojans quarterback Carson Palmer won the 2002 Heisman Trophy as the best college football player in America. During the bowl games, USC had a convincing 38–17 win over #3 Iowa in the Orange Bowl. USC became #4 in the final AP Poll and Coaches' Poll. Other notable players for the USC Trojans in 2002 include WR#2 Kareem Kelly, RB#21 Malaefou Mackenzie, QB#10 Matt Cassel, RB#4 Sultan McCullough, RB#34 Hershel Dennis (FR) RB#25 Justin Fargas, RB#39 Sunny Byrd, RB#34 Chad Pierson, S#43 Troy Polamalu, WR#44 Gregg Guenther, TE#86 Dominique Byrd, WR#83 Keary Colbert, WR#1 Mike Williams, WR#7 Sandy Fletcher, WR#82 Donald Hale, TE#88 Doyal Butler, and WR#87 Grant Mattos. The team was named national champion by the Dunkel System, Matthews Grid Ratings, and Sagarin Ratings, 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, 2018115 although none are claimed by the university. Recruiting USC was ranked highly (#12 by Scout, #13 by Rivals) for getting Darnell Bing, Manuel Wright, Winston Justice, Fred Matua, Tom Malone, Jason Mitchell, Hershel Dennis, Kyle Williams, Dominique Byrd, Dallas Sartz, Justin Wyatt, Chris McFoy, Mike Williams, LaJuan Ramsey, Oscar Lua and Brandon Hancock among others. Schedule 2002 AP Pacific September 2, 2002 5:00 p.m. w y 20 Auburn Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 24–17 63,269 Cumulative Season Statistics http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2002-2003/teamcume.html University of Southern California Department of Athletics November 7, 2014 September 14 12:30 p.m. w y y 17 Colorado 18 Folsom Field Boulder, CO ABC 40–3 53,119 September 21 4:00 p.m. l y y 11 Kansas State 25 KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS TBS 20–27 49,276 September 28 3:30 p.m. w 18 Oregon State 23 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA FSN 22–0 56,417 October 5 4:00 p.m. l y 18 Washington State 17 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA TBS 27–30 OT 36,861 October 12 3:30 p.m. w 20 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA FSN 30–28 63,113 October 19 12:30 p.m. w 19 Washington 22 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 41–21 52,961 October 26 12:30 p.m. w y 15 Oregon 14 Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR ABC 44–33 56,754 November 9 5:00 p.m. w y 10 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry ABC 49–17 44,950 November 16 4:00 p.m. w y 8 Arizona State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA TBS 34–13 73,923 November 23 12:30 p.m. w y 7 UCLA 25 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Victory Bell ABC 52–21 91,084 November 30 5:00 p.m. w y 6 Notre Dame 7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry ABC 44–13 91,432 January 2, 2003, 2003 5:00 p.m. w y y 5 Iowa 3 Pro Player Stadium Miami Gardens, FL Orange Bowl ABC 38–17 75,971 Roster 2002 USC Trojans f 31 Fr Will Buchanon WR y 88 Jr Doyal Butler TE 39 So Sunny Byrd RB 19 Fr Greig Carlson WR 86 Fr Dominique Byrd TE y 10 So Matt Cassel QB y 83 Jr Keary Colbert WR y 25 Sr Justin Fargas RB y 44 Fr Gregg Guenther TE y 81 Jr Alex Holmes TE y 62 Jr Norm Katnik C y 2 Sr Kareem Kelly WR y 37 Fr David Kirtman RB y 11 Fr Matt Leinart QB y 21 Sr Malaefou MacKenzie FB y 4 Sr Sultan McCullough RB y 3 Sr Carson Palmer QB y 77 Jr Jacob Rogers T y 78 So Lenny Vandermade G y 35 So Lee Webb Lee Webb (American football) RB y 1 Fr Mike Williams Mike Williams (wide receiver, born 1984) WR y 8 Jr Marcell Allmond CB y 59 Fr Collin Ashton LB y 84 Fr Shaun Cody DT y 6 So Matt Grootegoed LB y 27 So Jason Leach DB y 99 So Mike Patterson Mike Patterson (American football) DT y 43 Sr Troy Polamalu S y 93 Sr Bernard Riley DT y 42 Fr Dallas Sartz LB y 94 So Kenechi Udeze DE y 24 Fr Justin Wyatt CB y 16 Fr Ryan Killeen K y 14 Fr Tom Malone Tom Malone (American football) P y https://web.archive.org/web/20040513043655/http://usc.rivals.com:80/content.asp?SID=995&CID=30153 *Pete Carroll Norm Chow – offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin – wide receivers Ryan Nielsen – volunteer assistant 2004-05-13 Game summaries Auburn Auburn at No. 20 USC Tigers 7 7 0 3 No. 20 Trojans 7 7 3 7 September 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles yes 1 12:05 USC Kareem Kelly 15-yard pass from Carson Palmer (David Davis kick) USC 7-0 1 8:31 AUB Cadillac Williams 23-yard run (Damon Duval kick) Tied 7-7 2 12:04 USC Sultan McCullough 3-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 14-7 2 0:11 AUB Ronnie Brown 1-yard run (Damon Duval kick) Tied 14-14 3 7:05 USC David Davis 37-yard field goal USC 17-14 4 14:51 AUB Damon Duval 39-yard field goal Tied 17-17 4 1:26 USC Carson Palmer 1-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 24-17 yes 2002 Kansas State Wildcats football team at No. 18 Colorado No. 17 USC at No. 18 Colorado No. 17 Trojans 14 6 0 20 No. 18 Buffaloes 0 0 3 0 September 14 Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado 12:30 p.m. PST 53,119 ABC yes 1 9:56 USC Malaefou MacKenzie 32-yard pass from Carson Palmer (David Davis kick) USC 7-0 1 2:46 USC Malaefou MacKenzie 14-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 14-0 2 2:08 USC Sultan McCullough 62-yard run (kick failed) USC 20-0 3 2:51 COL Patrick Brougham 42-yard field goal USC 20-3 4 10:24 USC Carson Palmer 1-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 27-3 4 8:47 USC Mike Ross recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) USC 33-3 4 2:47 USC Darryl Poston 4-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 40-3 yes 2002 Colorado Buffaloes football team at No. 25 Kansas State No. 11 USC at No. 25 Kansas State No. 11 Trojans 0 6 0 14 No. 25 Wildcats 0 12 7 8 September 21 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas John Laurie Ron Thulin, Charles Davis, Craig Sager, and Erin Andrews TBS yes 2 5:43 KSU Jared Brite 35-yard field goal KSU 3–0 2 3:46 KSU Ell Roberson 1-yard fun (Brite kick) KSU 10–0 2 0:32 USC Mike Patterson 3-yard fumble return (kick blocked) KSU 10–6 2 0:32 KSU Terence Newman 98-yard PAT return KSU 12–6 3 3:55 KSU Darren Sproles 10-yard fun (Brite kick) KSU 19–6 4 14:55 KSU James Terry 10-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Roberson run) KSU 27–6 4 10:21 USC Keary Colbert 9-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) KSU 27–13 4 6:31 USC Sultan McCullough 25-yard run (Killeen kick) KSU 27–20 yes 2002 Kansas State Wildcats football team Palmer's Legacy Hangs in Balance https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-22-sp-plaschke22-story.html Los Angeles Times September 22, 2002 September 8, 2019 Plaschke Bill Bill Plaschke Statistics USCKSU First downs 16 19 Total yards 276 347 Rushing yards 90 188 Passing yards 186 159 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 29:37 30:23 No. 23 Oregon State No. 23 Oregon State at No. 18 USC No. 23 Beavers 0 0 0 0 No. 18 Trojans 0 13 6 3 September 28 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles yes 2 14:50 USC Ryan Killeen 43-yard field goal USC 3-0 2 13:04 USC Ryan Killeen 42-yard field goal USC 6-0 2 0:10 USC Mike Williams 11-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 13-0 3 4:45 USC Mike Williams 16-yard pass from Carson Palmer (pass failed) USC 19-0 4 10:34 USC Ryan Killeen 32-yard field goal USC 22-0 yes 2002 Oregon State Beavers football team at No. 17 Washington State No. 18 USC at No. 17 Washington State No. 18 Trojans 7 0 7 13 0 No. 17 Cougars 10 0 7 10 3 October 5 Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington 2002 Washington State Cougars football team California California at No. 20 USC Golden Bears 14 7 0 7 No. 20 Trojans 3 14 7 6 October 12 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles yes 1 10:06 CAL Joe Igber 3-yard run (Mark Jensen kick) CAL 7-0 1 6:04 USC Ryan Killeen 34-yard field goal CAL 7-3 1 2:24 CAL Terrell Williams 1-yard run (Mark Jensen kick) CAL 14-3 2 11:42 CAL Jonathan Makonnen 15-yard pass from Kyle Boller (Mark Jensen kick) CAL 21-3 2 5:29 USC Kareem Kelly 6-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) CAL 21-10 2 1:06 USC Mike Williams 21-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) CAL 21-17 3 8:38 USC Sultan McCullough 2-yard run (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 24-21 4 9:59 USC Ryan Killeen 32-yard field goal USC 27-21 4 1:41 USC Ryan Killeen 18-yard field goal USC 30-21 4 0:35 CAL Tom Swoboda 5-yard pass from Kyle Boller (Mark Jensen kick) USC 30-28 yes 2002 California Golden Bears football team No. 22 Washington #22/17 Washington at #19/20 USC No. 22 Huskies 7 0 0 14 No. 19 Trojans 7 10 17 7 October 19 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Keith Jackson, Dan Fouts & Todd Harris ABC yes 1 2:47 USC Mike Williams 43-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 7-0 1 0:04 WASH Paul Arnold 5-yard pass from Cody Pickett (John Anderson kick) Tied 7-7 2 10:53 USC Keary Colbert 61-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 14-7 2 6:58 USC Ryan Killeen 30-yard field goal USC 17-7 3 9:34 USC Mike Williams 14-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 24-7 3 6:56 USC Mike Williams 11-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 31-7 3 4:56 USC Ryan Killeen 33-yard field goal USC 34-7 4 13:30 WASH Kevin Ware 2-yard pass from Cody Pickett (John Anderson kick) USC 34-14 4 10:22 WASH Reggie Williams 27-yard pass from Cody Pickett (John Anderson kick) USC 34-21 4 3:23 USC Justin Fargas 13-yard run (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 41-21 yes 2002 Washington Huskies football team at No. 14 Oregon No. 15 USC at No. 14 Oregon No. 15 Trojans 14 0 20 10 No. 14 Ducks 13 6 0 14 October 26 Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon 56,754 2002 Oregon Ducks football team at Stanford No. 10 USC at Stanford No. 10 Trojans 14 7 14 14 Cardinal 7 3 0 7 October 19 Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, California 44,950 2002 Stanford Cardinal football team Stanford–USC football rivalry Arizona State Arizona State at No. 8 USC Sun Devils 3 7 3 0 No. 8 Trojans 10 10 0 14 November 16 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles 2002 Arizona State Sun Devils football team Klein Gary November 17, 2002 Trojans Focus Is Unrivaled https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-17-sp-usc17-story.html December 10, 2002 The Los Angeles Times at No. 25 UCLA No. 7 USC at No. 25 UCLA No. 7 Trojans 21 7 14 10 No. 25 Bruins 0 7 0 14 November 23 Rose Bowl, Pasadena 3:30 p.m. EST 3:26 91,084 ABC yes 1 3 14:53 USC Kelly 34-yard passing touchdown from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 7–0 10:30 USC Colbert 51-yard passing touchdown from Palmer (Kileen kick) USC 14–0 6:04 USC Fargas 1-yard run (Killeen kick) USC 21–0 2 2 11:40 UCLA White 7-yard run (Fikse kick) USC 21–7 4:20 USC MacKenzie 2-yard passing touchdown from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 28–7 3 3 13:45 USC Colbert34-yard run (Killeen kick) USC 35–7 2:05 USC Guenther Jr. 3-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 42–7 4 4 14:55 USC Killeen 27-yard field goal USC 45–7 9:30 USC Dennis 38-yard run (Killeen kick) USC 52–7 2:47 UCLA White Jr. 10-yard passing touchdown from Moore (Fikse kick) USC 52–14 0:59 UCLA Lewis 14-yard passing touchdown from Sciarra (Fikse kick) USC 52–21 yes Carson Palmer 19/32, 254 Yds, 4 TD Kareem Kelly 4 Rec, 94 Yds, 1 TD . Retrieved 2017-Feb-14. No. 7 Notre Dame No. 7 Fighting Irish 6 7 0 0 No. 6 Trojans 0 17 13 14 November 30 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles 8:00 p.m. EST 3:26 91,432 Cloudy; 60 F; wind variable Chuck McFerrin ABC yes 1 2 4:10 ND Setta 34-yard field goal ND 3–0 3:46 ND Setta 32-yard field goal ND 6–0 2 4 10:49 USC Williams 6-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 7–6 3:34 USC Killeen 22-yard field goal USC 10–6 1:07 ND Pierre-Antoine recovered blocked punt in end zone (Setta kick) ND 13–10 :05 USC Williams 19-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 17–13 3 3 12:01 USC MacKenzie 15-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 24–13 6:36 USC Killeen 27-yard field goal USC 27–13 2:15 USC Killeen 29-yard field goal USC 30–13 4 2 11:58 USC McCullough 11-yard run (Killeen kick) USC 37–13 7:23 USC MacKenzie 10-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 44–13 yes 2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team Carson Palmer 32/46, 425 Yds Justin Fargas 20 Rush, 120 Yds Mike Williams 10 Rec, 169 Yds Palmer's Offense Boosts U.S.C. over Notre Dame https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/01/sports/ncaafootball/palmers-offense-boosts-usc-over-notre-dame.html The New York Times December 1, 2002 December 10, 2002 Southern Cal's Palmer Captures the Heisman https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/sports/football-southern-cal-s-palmer-captures-the-heisman.html The New York Times December 15, 2002 December 10, 2002 vs. No. 3 Iowa (Orange Bowl) #3/5 Iowa Hawkeyes at #5/4 USC Trojans No. 3 Hawkeyes 10 0 0 7 No. 5 Trojans 7 3 14 14 January 2 Pro Player Stadium 75,971http://www.orangebowl.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11800&KEY=&ATCLID=1249402 BCS GAME RESULTS - OrangeBowl.org The Official Site of The FedEx Orange Bowl Championship www.orangebowl.org 11 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090602014445/http://www.orangebowl.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11800&KEY=&ATCLID=1249402 2 June 2009 dead Tim Brant, Ed Cunningham ABC yes 1 14:43 IOWA C.J. Jones 100-yard kickoff return IOWA 7-0 1 12:46 USC Justin Fargas 4-yard run TIED 7-7 1 6:26 IOWA Nate Kaeding 35-yard field goal IOWA 10-7 2 1:12 USC Ryan Killeen 35-yard field goal TIED 10-10 3 10:14 USC Mike Williams 18-yard pass from Carson Palmer USC 17-10 3 4:58 USC Justin Fargas 50-yard run USC 24-10 4 14:25 USC Sultan McCullough 5-yard run USC 31-10 4 2:36 USC Sunny Byrd 6-yard run USC 38-10 4 0:34 IOWA Maurice Brown 18-yard pass from Brad Banks USC 38-17 yes 2003 Orange Bowl 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes football team USC played third ranked Iowa in the Orange Bowl. The matchup featured the top two finalists for that season's Heisman Trophy; Trophy winner Carson Palmer and runner up Brad Banks.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-2002.html 2002 Heisman Trophy Voting Banks was the quarterback for the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes had only lost one game all year and it was to their rival Iowa State. Iowa opened the play up with a bang and set an Orange Bowl record when C.J. Jones returned the opening kickoff of the game 100 yards for a touchdown. USC responded with a touchdown run on from running back Justin Fargas. Iowa regained the lead with a field goal from Nate Kaeding. USC would kick a field goal in the second quarter to even the score 10-10 at the half. USC came out in the second half and separated themselves from Iowa scoring twice in the third quarter to take a 24-10 lead. The first score was a pass from Palmer to Mike Williams and the second was another run from Fargas. USC ended the third quarter with the ball and scored quickly in the fourth quarter giving them a 31-10 lead. The lead grew when Iowa continued to be unable to do anything with the ball and USC took advantage on a rushing touchdown from fan favorite Sunny Byrd to make the score 38-10. Iowa would score off a touchdown pass from Banks however it was too late. USC would end up winning 38-17. The Trojans dominated time of possession in the game, having control of the ball for 38:06 seconds. This allowed for the Trojans defense to rest while keeping the Iowa defense out on the field and making them tired. USC's defense did not give up a touchdown to Iowa until the fourth quarter of the game and forced Banks to throw his first interception since October 19.http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=230020030 https://archive.today/20130124150803/http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=230020030 dead January 24, 2013 Iowa vs. USC - Game Recap - January 2, 2003 - ESPN Statistics IOWAUSC First downs 18 30 Total yards 323 550 Rushing yards 119 247 Passing yards 204 303 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 21:54 38:06 2002 team players in the NFL Marcell Allmond Kevin Arbet Collin Ashton Darnell Bing William Buchanon Dominique Byrd Matt Cassel Shaun Cody Keary Colbert Justin Fargas Matt Grootegoed Gregg Guenther Alex Holmes Norm Katnik Kareem Kelly Ryan Killeen David Kirtman Winston Justice Jason Leach Matt Leinart Oscar Lua Malaefou MacKenzie Tom Malone Grant Mattos Fred Matua Chris McFoy Sultan McCullough Jason Mitchell Carson Palmer Mike Patterson Troy Polamalu LaJuan Ramsey Bernard Riley Jacob Rogers Frostee Rucker Dallas Sartz Lofa Tatupu Kenechi Udeze Lenny Vandermade John Walker Lee Webb Kyle Williams Mike Williams Manuel Wright Justin Wyatt References 2 USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons USC Trojans football