1987 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1987 USC Trojans football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 17 18 8–4 7–1 Larry Smith 1st Chuck Stobart 1st Dave Cadigan Greg Coauette Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Pac-10 co-champion Rose Bowl L 17–20 vs. Michigan State The 1987 Southern Cal Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Larry Smith, the Trojans compiled an 8–4 record (7–1 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 321 to 229.Southern California Yearly Results (1985-1989) David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse July 20, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1985-1989_yearly_results.php July 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150722090445/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1985-1989_yearly_results.php dead The Trojans lost their inaugural game of Larry Smith's tenure to Michigan State in the first night game ever played at Spartan Stadium. USC secured a Rose Bowl berth by tying UCLA for the Pacific-10 championship and winning the head-to-head match. They faced Michigan State again and lost 20–17. Quarterback Rodney Peete led the team in passing, completing 197 of 332 passes for 2,709 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Steven Webster led the team in rushing with 239 carries for 1,109 yards and six touchdowns. Erik Affholter led the team in receiving yards with 44 catches for 640 yards and four touchdowns.1987 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1987.html Schedule 1987 AP September 7 5:00 p.m. l y y 19 Michigan State 17 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ABC 13–27 77,922 Celebrate: MSU whips Southern Cal, 27-13 Lansing State Journal Jack Ebling September 8, 1987 1C, 4C https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-celebrate-msu-whi/167421246/ Newspapers.com September 19 12:30 p.m. w y Boston College 19 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 23–17 46,205 https://www.newspapers.com/article/camarillo-star-usc-ends-boston-college-s/172083526/ The Camarillo Daily News USC ends Boston College streak September 20, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 1:00 p.m. w y California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 31–14 62,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-for-peetes-sake-be/172256847/ Ventura County Star For Peete's sake! Bears no match for Trojans September 27, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 3 6:30 p.m. w Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 48–14 47,979 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-beavers-blasted-by-usc/172256960/ The Columbian Beavers blasted by USC October 4, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 1:00 p.m. l y Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 27–34 39,587 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-oregon-sho/172257062/ The San Bernardino County Sun Oregon shows USC who real contender is, 34–27 October 11, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 12:30 p.m. w y Washington Husky Stadium Seattle, WA ABC 37–23 71,678 https://www.newspapers.com/article/simi-valley-star-trojans-go-to-the-tailb/172257160/ The Enterprise Trojans go to the tailback October 18, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 12:30 p.m. l y y Notre Dame 10 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry CBS 15–26 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-world-notre-dame-runs-past-usc-in/172086451/ Daily World Notre Dame runs past USC in 26–15 win October 25, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 1:30 p.m. w Washington State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 42–7 24,834 https://www.newspapers.com/article/thousand-oaks-star-webster-stars-as-troj/172257296/ Sunday News Chronicle Webster stars as Trojans drown Cougars November 1, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 12:30 p.m. w y Stanford Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry ABC 39–24 58,922 https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-trojans-peete/172257390/ Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser Trojans, Peete pass by Cardinal in role reversal November 8, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 14 1:30 p.m. w Arizona Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 12–10 51,428 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-rodriquez-field-goals-boost-s/172257524/ The State Rodriquez' field goals boost Southern Cal November 15, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 12:30 p.m. w UCLA 5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell ABC 17–13 92,516 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-trojans-heist-bruins/172248846/ Ventura County Star Trojans heist Bruins' bouquet November 22, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1988, 1988 2:00 p.m. l y y 16 Michigan State 8 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 17–20 103,847 A Simple Snap and a Wave End Big Ten Jinx: Michigan State Beats USC and Pac-10, 20-17 Los Angeles Times Mal Florence January 2, 1988 1, 7 (part III) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-1988-rose-bowl/167435748/ Newspapers.com Rankings 1987 NCAA Division I-A football rankings Game summaries Arizona Arizona 7 0 3 0 USC 3 3 0 6 Gainesville Sun. 1987 November 15. Retrieved 2019-January-06. UCLA No. 5 UCLA at USC No. 5 Bruins 7 3 3 0 Trojans 0 0 3 14 November 21 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 92,516 yes 1 UCLA Gaston Green 6-yard run (Alfredo Velasco kick) UCLA 7-0 2 UCLA Alfredo Velasco 32-yard field goal UCLA 10-0 2 UCLA Alfredo Velasco 38-yard field goal UCLA 13-0 3 USC Quin Rodriguez 26-yard field goal UCLA 13-3 4 14:09 USC Randy Tanner 6-yard pass from Rodney Peete (Quin Rodriguez kick) UCLA 13-10 4 7:59 USC Erik Affholter 33-yard pass from Rodney Peete (Quin Rodriguez kick) USC 17-13 yes 1987 UCLA Bruins football team Victory Bell (UCLA–USC) USC clinched berth in the Rose Bowl with the win."Southern Cal takes roses from UCLA." Gainesville Sun. 1987 November 22. Roster 1987 USC Trojans f 42 Jr Erik Affholter WR y 88 Jr Gene Arrington WR So Aaron Emanuel RB 34 Fr Ricky Ervins RB y 86 So Scott Galbraith TE y 17 Jr Paul Green Paul Green (American football) TE y Jr John Guerrero OT y 39 So Leroy Holt RB y 4 Fr Pat O'Hara QB y 63 So Brad Leggett C y 40 Fr Scott Lockwood RB y 16 Jr Rodney Peete QB y 75 Fr Mark Tucker Mark Tucker (offensive lineman) OG y 83 Fr Gary Wellman WR y 7 Fr Mark Carrier Mark Carrier (safety) S y 2 Jr Chris Hale CB y 93 Fr Pat Harlow DT y 90 So Dan Owens DT y 35 Fr Scott Ross Scott Ross (American football) LB y 99 So Tim Ryan Tim Ryan (American football, born 1967) DT y 55 Fr Junior Seau LB y 11 Fr Quin Rodriguez K *Larry Smith *John Matsko Tom Roggeman References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons USC Trojans football