1939 USC Trojans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1939 USC Trojans football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 3 8–0–2 5–0–2 Howard Jones 15th Joe Shell Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum National champion (Dickinson System)PCC championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 14–0 vs. Tennessee The 1939 USC Trojans football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) during the 1939 college football season. In their 15th year under head coach Howard Jones, the Trojans compiled an 8–0–2 record (5–0–2 against PCC opponents), shut out six of ten opponents, won the PCC championship, and outscored all opponents by a total of 181 to 33. They won the PCC championship.1939 USC Trojans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 5, 2022 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1939-schedule.html In the final AP poll released on December 9, 1939, USC was ranked No. 3 with 891 points, 200 points behind No 1 Texas A&M.Writers Pick Texas Aggies As No. 1 Football Team The Bristol News Bulletin December 12, 1939 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99129996/writers-pick-texas-aggies-as-no-1/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 April 5, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405170413/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99129996/writers-pick-texas-aggies-as-no-1/ live However, in the Dickinson System rankings released three days later on December 12, USC was ranked No. 1 with a 25.73 point rating, edging out Texas A&M by three tenths of a point.Pacific Coast Football Best The Bristol News Bulletin December 12, 1939 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99130691/pacific-coast-football-best-dickinson/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 April 5, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405170413/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99130691/pacific-coast-football-best-dickinson/ live The Trojans were awarded the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy for the national championship as awarded by the Dickinson system. After the final rankings were released, the Trojans defeated No. 2 Tennessee, 14–0, in the 1940 Rose Bowl. Tennessee had not given up any points prior to the Rose Bowl and had won 23 consecutive games.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83064866/usc-wins-140-over-tennessee/ Los Angeles Times U.S.C. wins 14–0 over Tennessee January 2, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com August 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210808222415/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83064866/usc-wins-140-over-tennessee/ live The AP did not conduct a poll after the bowl games. USC guard Harry Smith was a consensus first-team pick on the 1939 All-America college football team.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 7 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf October 22, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171022194854/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf live Smith was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.Harry Smith National Football Foundation April 5, 2022 https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1576 January 29, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190129064242/https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1576 live Quarterback Grenny Lansdell was chosen as a first-team All-American by the Central Press Association and as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.Walter Johns South Dominates Captains' All-American Wisconsin State Journal 1939-12-10The 1939 A.P. All America San Antonio Express 1939-12-09 Smith, Lansdell, and tackle Phil Gaspar were also selected as first-team players on the 1939 All-Pacific Coast football team.All-Coast Eleven Rates As 'Dream Team' The San Bernardino Daily Sun December 8, 1939 21 https://www.newspapers.com/image/49147450/ April 5, 2022 April 5, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405170412/https://www.newspapers.com/image/49147450/ live1939 United Press All-Pacific Coast Team – Kenny Washington Considered Outstanding Back James A. Sullivan United Press – San Francisco December 5, 1939 June 17, 2015 https://lvironpigs.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/1939-united-press-all-pacific-coast-team-kenny-washington-considered-outstanding-back/ June 18, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150618072135/https://lvironpigs.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/1939-united-press-all-pacific-coast-team-kenny-washington-considered-outstanding-back/ live USC recognized the 1939 team as National Champions in 2004 based on their #1 ranking in the contemporary Dickinson System. USC saluted the surviving members of the squad on the field at their October 16 home game versus Arizona State. USC Now Will Recognize Its 1939 Football Team As A National Champion http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072604aaa.html University of Southern California Athletics July 26, 2004 April 12, 2022 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070324022021/http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072604aaa.html March 24, 2007 USC now will recognize its 1939 football team as a national champion, giving the Trojan program 10 national titles in the sport, Trojan athletic director Mike Garrett announced. USC will salute the surviving members of that 1939 squad at its Oct. 16 home game against Arizona State. USC's yearbook for the 1939-1940 school year also referred to the team as "National Champions".1940 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), p. 190-191. Schedule 1939 AP September 30 t Oregon Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 7–7 41,000 Doyle Nave Stars as Trojans Tie Oregon by 7-7 Score: Webfooters in Surprise; Southern California Comes From Behind to Get Even Break Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman October 1, 1939 II-11, II-15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99145331/doyle-nave-stars-as-trojans-tie-oregon/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405204341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99145331/doyle-nave-stars-as-trojans-tie-oregon/ live October 7 w Washington State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 27–0 45,000 Trojan Machine Rolls to 27-0 Victory Over Cougars: Lansdell Stars in Triumph; Jones Uses Nearly Everybody on Squad as 45,000 Fans Watch Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman October 8, 1939 II-9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99144880/trojan-machine-rolls-to-27-0-victory/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405204133/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99144880/trojan-machine-rolls-to-27-0-victory/ live October 14 w y Illinois Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 26–0 60,000 Troy's Thundering Herd Swamps Outclassed Illini, 26 to 0: Nave Opens Scoring Spree Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman October 15, 1939 II-11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99144359/troys-thundering-herd-swamps/ Newspapers.com October 28 w 8 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 26–0 46,000 Trojans Crush Bears, 26-0, to Break Jinx of Cal Bowl Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman October 29, 1939 II-13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99143960/trojans-crush-bears-26-0-to-break/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405195041/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99143960/trojans-crush-bears-26-0-to-break/ liveUSC Football 2017 Media Guide University of Southern California Athletics 70 http://usctrojans.com/documents/2017/7/25/2017_USC_Football_Media_Guide.pdf October 13, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20221013034350/https://usctrojans.com/documents/2017/7/25/2017_USC_Football_Media_Guide.pdf live November 4 w y 7 Oregon State 11 Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 19–7 32,611 Trojans Aerial Attack Bombs Beavers, 19 to 7 Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman November 5, 1939 II-13, II-14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99143575/trojans-aerial-attack-bombs-beavers-19/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405202359/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99143575/trojans-aerial-attack-bombs-beavers-19/ live November 11 w 4 Stanford Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 33–0 50,000 Powerful Trojans Smother Stanford Indians by 33-0: Worst Licking in Long Series Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman November 12, 1939 17, 20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99142927/powerful-trojans-smother-stanford/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405193329/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99142927/powerful-trojans-smother-stanford/ live November 25 w y y 4 Notre Dame 7 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 20–12 54,799 Trojans Humble Irish, 20-12: 55,000 Thrill To Long Runs in Fast Game The South Bend Tribune Jack Ledden November 26, 1939 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99137772/trojans-humble-irish-20-12-55000/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2023 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20230405145354/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99137772/trojans-humble-irish-20-12-55000/ live December 2 w y 1 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 9–7 44,760 Trojan Pass Conquers Washington in Last Two Minutes, 9-7 Los Angeles Times Paul Zimmerman December 3, 1939 II-11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99137252/trojan-pass-conquers-washington-in-last/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2022 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405181701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99137252/trojan-pass-conquers-washington-in-last/ live December 9 t y 3 UCLA 9 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 0–0 103,303 Trojans and Bruins in 0-0 Tie Before 103,300: Foes Battle to Standstill Los Angeles Times Dick Hyland December 10, 1939 II-11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93903500/the-los-angeles-times/ Newspapers.com April 5, 2023 December 28, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20230405141251/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93903500/the-los-angeles-times/ live January 1, 1940, 1940 w y y 3 Tennessee 2 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl 14–0 92,200 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83064866/usc-wins-140-over-tennessee/ Los Angeles Times U.S.C. Wins 14–0 Over Tennessee: Mighty Men of Troy Crush Volunteers Before 90,000 Rose Bowl Fans Paul Zimmerman January 2, 1940 1, 13 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com August 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210808222415/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83064866/usc-wins-140-over-tennessee/ live Rankings 1939 college football rankings AP 1 9 7 8 7 (1) 4 (5) 3 (10) 4 (11) 1т (25) 3 (18) 3 (9) 1940 NFL draft The following players were drafted into professional football following the 1939 season. Player Position Round Pick Franchise Doyle Nave Back 1 6 Detroit Lions Grenny Lansdell End 1 10 New York Giants Bill Fisk End 3 21 Detroit Lions Harry Smith Guard 5 36 Detroit Lions Bobby Winslow End 7 56 Detroit Lions Bob Hoffman Back 9 78 Washington Redskins Howard Stoecker Tackle 11 98 Washington Redskins Phil Gaspar Tackle 12 109 Green Bay Packers 1940 NFL Draft Pro Football Archives April 5, 2022 https://www.profootballarchives.com/1940nfldraft.html May 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220519161636/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1940nfldraft.html live 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