1979 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1979 USC Trojans football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 2 2 11–0–1 6–0–1 John Robinson 4th Dennis Johnson Charles White Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum National champion (Football Research)Pac-10 championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 17–16 vs. Ohio State The 1979 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach John Robinson, the Trojans compiled an 11–0–1 record (6–0–1 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 389 to 171.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 Paul McDonald led the team in passing, completing 164 of 264 passes for 2,223 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. Charles White led the team in rushing with 332 carries for 2,050 yards and 19 touchdowns. Danny Garcia led the team in receiving with 29 catches for 492 yards and three touchdowns.1979 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1979.html The team was named national champion by the College Football Researchers Association, an NCAA-designated major selector.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 1979 AP September 8 w y y 1 Texas Tech Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX 21–7 52,991 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-white-injured-ea/157777642/ Wisconsin State Journal White injured early, but Southern Cal wins September 9, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com September 15 w y 1 Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR ONTV 42–5 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-top-ranked-usc-destroy/157803108/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Top-ranked USC destroys Oregon State by 42–5 September 16, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com September 22 w y 1 Minnesota Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 48–14 61,766 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-usc-rambles-past-min/157817709/ The Courier-Journal USC rambles past Minnesota September 23, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 w y y 1 LSU 20 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 17–12 78,322 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-for-59-minutes-usc/134361732/ The Los Angeles Times For 59 minutes USC isn't even No. 1 in Baton Rouge September 30, 1979 October 30, 2023 Newspapers.com October 6 w 1 Washington State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 50–21 55,117 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-mcdonald-sparks/157804418/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram McDonald sparks USC win October 7, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com October 13 t y 1 Stanford Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 21–21 76,067 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-trojans-are-left-in-a-d/157813537/ The Daily Breeze Trojans are left in a daze October 14, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 w y y 4 Notre Dame 9 Jeweled Shillelagh Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN ABC 42–23 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-southern-cal-att/157817862/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Southern Cal attack grinds Irish, 42–23 October 21, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 w y 3 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 24–14 76,780 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-southern-cal-salvag/157814857/ Tallahassee Democrat Southern Cal salvages win in late spree October 28, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 3 w 3 Arizona Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 34–7 62,054 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-usc-star-sets-3-rec/157816428/ The Kansas City Star USC star sets 3 records in 34–7 rout of Arizona November 4, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 w y 4 Washington 15 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA ABC 24–17 60,527 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-usc-tames-huskies/157817388/ Winston-Salem Journal USC tames Huskies and smells Roses November 11, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 24 w 4 UCLA Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell KABC 49–14 88,214 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-trojans-smash/157811767/ The San Francisco Examiner Trojans smash Bruins, 49–14 November 25, 1979 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com January 1, 1980, 1980 w y y 3 Ohio State 1 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 17–16 105,526 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-white-carries-south/157818069/ The Pittsburgh Press White carries Southern Cal over Ohio State January 2, 1980 October 25, 2024 Newspapers.com 1979 USC Trojans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 25, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1979-schedule.html Game summaries At Texas Tech September 2021 At Oregon State Paul McDonald completed eight of nine passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of action while Charles White watched from the sidelines with an injured shoulder. McDonald led the Trojans to touchdowns on their first five possessions before he and the rest of USC starters sat for the second half.Ocala Star-Banner. 1979 Sept 16. Page 2C. Retrieved 2021-Sep-12. Minnesota September 2021 At LSU September 2021 Washington State September 2021 Stanford Charles White 32 rushes, 221 yards https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement January 17, 2021 February 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225154328/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf dead At Notre Dame USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed #4 USC Trojans (5–0–1) at #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4–1) October 20 USC 0 7 14 21 Notre Dame 0 7 7 9 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 59,075 ABC Keith Jackson & Frank Broyles Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Oct 21. First quarter No scoring Second quarter USC – Garcia 12-yard pass from McDonald (Hipp kick). USC 7–0. ND – Ferguson 1-yard run (Male kick). Tie 7–7. Third quarter USC – White 3-yard run (Hipp kick). USC 14–7 USC – White 1-yard run (Hipp kick). USC 21–7. ND – Ferguson 21-yard run (Male kick). USC 21–14. Fourth quarter USC – Williams 12-yard pass from McDonald (Hipp kick). USC 28–14. ND – Stone 2-yard run (kick failed). USC 28–20. USC – White 1-yard run (Hipp kick). USC 35–20. USC – White 1-yard run (Hipp kick). USC 42–20. ND – Male 42-yard field goal. USC 42–23. Top rushers USC – Charles White – 44 rushes, 261 yards, 4 TD https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement January 17, 2021 February 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225154328/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf dead At California USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed #3 USC Trojans (6–0–1) at California Golden Bears (4–3) October 27 USC 7 0 0 17 California 0 7 0 7 California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, California 76,780 "Late scores sends Trojans past Bears." Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Oct 28. Retrieved 2021-Sep-24. First quarter USC – James Hunter 3-yard pass from Paul McDonald (Eric Hipp kick). USC 7–0. Second quarter CAL – Darnell Chapman 74-yard blocked field goal return (Mick Luckhurst kick). Tie 7–7. Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter USC – Charles White 2-yard run (Eric Hipp kick). USC 14–7. CAL – Matt Bouza 13-yard pass from Rich Campbell (Mick Luckhurst kick), 5:24. Tie 14–14. USC – Eric Hipp 45-yard field goal, 2:46. USC 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards. USC – Charles White 5-yard run (Eric Hipp kick), 0:02. USC 24–7. Top passers USC – Paul McDonald – 15/35, 212 yards, TD CAL – Rich Campbell – 24/40, 266 yards, TD Top rushers USC – Charles White – 44 rushes, 198 yards, 2 TD CAL – Paul Jones – 13 rushes, 36 yards Top receivers USC – Ray Butler – 4 receptions, 56 yards CAL – Matt Bouza – 7 receptions, 101 yards, TD Arizona September 2021 At Washington USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed #4 USC Trojans (8–0–1) at #15 Washington Huskies (7–2) November 10 USC 0 10 7 7 Washington 3 0 7 7 Husky Stadium, Seattle, Washington 60,527 ABC Keith Jackson & Frank Broyles USC Wins Bowl Berth Unless... The Register-Guard Eugene November 11, 1979 First quarter WASH – Lansford 30-yard field goal. Washington 3–0. Second quarter USC – Garcia 8-yard pass from McDonald (Hipp kick). USC 7–3. USC – Hipp 31-yard field goal. USC 10–3. Third quarter USC – K. Williams 19-yard pass from McDonald (Hipp kick). USC 17–3. WASH – Flick 1-yard run (Lansford kick). USC 17–10. Fourth quarter WASH – Skansi 12-yard pass from Flick (Lansford kick). Tie 17–17. USC – M. Allen 10-yard run (Hipp kick). USC 24–17. Top rushers USC – Charles White – 38 rushes, 243 yardshttps://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement January 17, 2021 February 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225154328/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf dead Vs. UCLA USC Trojans 2; text-align:center collapsed UCLA Bruins (5–5) vs. #4 USC Trojans (9–0–1) November 24 UCLA 0 0 7 7 USC 14 21 7 7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California 88,214 "SC Gets Roses, White Wants Trophy." Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 25. Retrieved 2020-Oct-01. First quarter USC – Charles White 2-yard run (Eric Hipp kick). USC 7–0. USC – Ronnie Lott 30-yard interception return (Eric Hipp kick). USC 14–0. Second quarter USC – Charles White 1-yard run (Eric Hipp kick). USC 21–0. USC – Charles White 26-yard run (Eric Hipp kick). USC 28–0. USC – Charles White 2-yard run (Eric Hipp kick). USC 35–0. Third quarter UCLA – Jo-Jo Townsell 79-yard pass from Rick Bashore (Peter Boermeester kick). USC 35–7. USC – Vic Rakhshani 5-yard pass from Paul McDonald (Eric Hipp kick). USC 42–7. Fourth quarter UCLA – Jo-Jo Townsell 5-yard pass from Rick Bashore (Peter Boermeester kick). USC 42–14. USC – Michael Hayes 54-yard run (Eric Hipp kick). USC 49–14. Top passers UCLA – Rick Bashore – 9/17, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT USC – Paul McDonald – 17/23, 199 yards, TD, INT Top rushers UCLA – Freeman McNeil – 30 rushes, 120 yards USC – Charles White – 35 rushes, 194 yards, 4 TD Top receivers UCLA – Jo-Jo Townsell – 5 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD USC – Rod Garcia – 3 receptions, 42 yards Rose Bowl (vs. Ohio State) Charles White 39 rushes, 247 yardshttps://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement January 17, 2021 February 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225154328/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/usctrojans.com/documents/2020/10/6/usc_trojans_football_2020_media_guide_extra_pages.pdf dead Roster 1979 USC Trojans f 33 So Marcus Allen RB y 89 Jr Hoby Brenner TE y 71 Sr Brad Budde OG y 86 Sr Ray Butler Ray Butler (American football) WR y Paul DiLulo RB 68 Sr Chris Foote Chris Foote (American football) C y 64 So Roy Foster Roy Foster (American football) OG y Dan Garcia WR Anthony Gibson RB Michael Harper RB Michael Hayes RB 85 Jr James Hunter TE Ricky Johnson RB Doug MacKenzie RB 52 Sr Brad Green Brad Green C 16 Sr Paul McDonald Paul McDonald (American football) QB y Malcolm Moore WR 72 Fr Don Mosebar OT y 77 Sr Anthony Muñoz OT y 26 Sr Danny Garcia WR Vic Rakhshani WR Scott Tinsley QB 68 Jr Keith Van Horne OT y 12 Sr Charles White Charles White (American football) RB y 8 Jr Kevin Williams WR George Achica DL 51 So Chip Banks LB y 94 Fr Bryon Darby DT 47 Fr Joey Browner S y 54 Jr Steve Busick LB y 87 Fr August Curley LB Byron Darby DL Dennis Edwards DL 40 Jr Jeff Fisher CB y Riki Gray LB 56 Sr Dennis Johnson Dennis Johnson (linebacker) LB y 96 Sr Myron Lapka DT y 42 Jr Ronnie Lott S y 58 Sr Mike McDonald LB 57 Sr Larry McGrew LB y Kenney Moore DB 81 Jr Eric Scoggins LB y 49 Jr Dennis Smith Dennis Smith (American football) DB y Ty Sperling DL 93 Fr Kelly Thomas DT 23 Herb Ward DB Eric Hipp K Dave Pryor P *John Robinson 1979 team players in the NFL Marcus Allen Chip Banks Hoby Brenner Joey Browner Brad Budde Steve Busick Ray Butler Dennis Johnson Myron Lapka Ronnie Lott Jeff Fisher Chris Foote Roy Foster Bruce Matthews Paul McDonald Larry McGrew Don Mosebar Anthony Muñoz Eric Scoggins Dennis Smith Keith Van Horne Charles White Awards and honors Brad Budde, Lombardi Award Charles White, 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 Charles White, Maxwell Award Charles White, Walter Camp Award References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons USC Trojans football