1972 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1972 USC Trojans football Pacific-8 Conference Pac-8 1 1 12–0 7–0 John McKay 13th John Robinson 1st Sam Cunningham John Grant Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Consensus national championPac-8 championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 42–17 vs. Ohio State The 1972 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The Trojans won all twelve of their games, outscored their opponents 467–134, and were consensus national champions. Schedule 1972 AP Pacific September 9 w y y 8 Arkansas 4 War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR 31–10 54,461 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lubbock-avalanche-journal-southern-cal-s/169009378/ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Southern Cal stews Porkers 31–10 September 10, 1972 March 26, 2025 Newspapers.com September 16 w 1 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 51–6 56,305 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-southern-cal-rips-o/181881075/ The Arizona Republic Southern Cal rips Oregon State, 51–6 September 17, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com September 23 w y y 1 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 55–20 61,227 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-hefty-usc-punish/181881221/ The Des Moines Register Hefty USC punishes Illinois, 55–20 September 24, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com September 30 w y 1 Michigan State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 51–6 63,934 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-trojans-annihilate/181881288/ The Sunday Oregonian Trojans annihilate Michigan State, 51–6 October 1, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 1:30 p.m. w y 1 Stanford 15 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry 30–21 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-usc-outclasses-stan/181881370/ Lincoln Journal & Star USC outclasses Stanford 30–21; McKay wanted bigger margin October 8, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 1:31 p.m. w 1 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 42–14 56,488 https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal-trojans-belt-bears-42/181881477/ The Oregon Statesman Trojans belt Bears 42–14 October 15, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 21 w y 1 Washington 18 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 34–7 59,151 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-trojans-crush-uw/181881591/ The Spokesman-Review Trojans crush UW October 22, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 28 w y 1 Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 18–0 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-davis-spurs-fumbling-troj/181881684/ Independent Press-Telegram Davis spurs fumbling Trojans, 18–0 October 29, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 1 Washington State Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 44–3 46,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-trojans-crush-couga/181881783/ The Spokesman-Review Trojans crush Cougars November 5, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com November 18 w y 1 UCLA 14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 24–7 82,929 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-trojans-ho/181881874/ The Sunday Sun-Telegram Trojans hold Roses, Pac-8 crown, 24–7 November 19, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com December 2 w y 1 Notre Dame 10 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 45–23 75,243 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-top-ranked-trojans-w/181878474/ Santa Cruz Sentinel Top-ranked Trojans whip Notre Dame December 3, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1973, 1973 w y y 1 Ohio State 3 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl 42–17 106,869 https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-106869-see-tro/181881999/ The Honolulu Advertiser 106,869 see Trojans 'Bam' Buckeyes in record style January 2, 1973 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1972 Southern California) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/251744 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics September 27, 2025 Rankings 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings AP 0 14 8 1 (13) 1 (28) 1 (28) 1 (36) 1 (34) 1(28) 1 (44) 1 (41) 1 (40) 1 (42) 1 (44) 1 (46) 1 (50) 1 (50) Coaches 0 13 8 2 (11) 1 (14) 1 (20) 1 (22) 1 (21) 1 (22) 1 (32) 1 (31) 1 (27) 1 (31) 1 (31) 1 (31) 1 (35) Game summaries At No. 4 Arkansas No. 8 Trojans 0 3 14 14 No. 4 Razorbacks 3 0 0 7 September 9 War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR 54,461 yes 1 ARK Bolton 27-yard field goal ARK 3–0 2 USC Rae 26-yard field goal Tie 3–3 3 2 USC Rae 5-yard run (Rae kick) USC 10–3 USC McNeill 18-yard run (Rae kick) USC 17–3 4 3 USC McNeill 3-yard run (Rae kick) USC 24–3 ARK Richardson 1-yard run (Bolton kick) USC 24–10 USC Cunningham 18-yard run (Rae kick) USC 31–10 yes Tailback Rod McNeill, who sat out the previous year with a hip injury, led the Trojans with 117 yards on 28 carries while Mike Rae, a backup for two seasons, completed 18 of 24 passes for 269 yards and in the second half completed nine straight passes at one point in his first start.U.S.C. Turns Back Arkansas, 31-10 https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/10/archives/usc-turns-back-arkansas-3110-rae-trojans-quarterback-overshadows.html The New York Times September 10, 1972 August 20, 2022 1972 Arkansas Razorbacks football team Oregon State Beavers 0 6 0 0 No. 1 Trojans 7 13 17 14 September 16 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 56,305 yes Q1 11:20 USC McNeill 14-yard run (Rae kick) USC 7–0 Q2 14:37 USC McNeill 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–0 Q2 9:40 ORST Morris 10-yard run (kick failed) USC 14–6 Q2 7:35 USC McNeill 5-yard run (kick failed) USC 20–6 Q3 8:48 USC Rae 20-yard field goal USC 23–6 Q3 3:11 USC Young 37-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 30–6 Q3 1:32 USC McKay 3-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 37–6 Q4 4:19 USC Haden 10-yard run (Rae kick) USC 44–6 Q4 :55 USC Washmara 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 51–6 yes 1972 Oregon State Beavers football team Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Sept 17. Anthony Davis 25 rushes, 206 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 18, 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 Illinois No. 1 Trojans 7 13 15 20 Fighting Illini 7 7 6 0 September 23 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL 61,277 yes Q1 4:26 ILL Hayes 5-yard run (Rucks kick) ILL 7–0 Q1 USC Garrison 58-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 ILL Uremovich 5-yard run (Rucks kick) ILL 14–7 Q2 USC Davis 2-yard run (Rae kick) Tie 14–14 Q2 :21 USC McKay 31-yard pass from Rae (kick failed) USC 20–14 Q3 USC Davis 2-yard run (McKay pass from Davis) USC 28–14 Q3 ILL Hayes 1-yard run (run failed) USC 28–20 Q3 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 35–20 Q4 USC Sims 35-yard blocked punt return (Rae kick) USC 42–20 Q4 USC McKay 6-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 49–20 Q4 USC Carter 1-yard run (kick failed) USC 55–20 yes 1972 Illinois Fighting Illini football team "USC Buries Illinois." 1972 Sept 24."Trojans Rip Illinois." Palm Beach Post. 1972 Sept 24. Michigan State Spartans 0 6 0 0 No. 1 Trojans 14 7 3 27 September 30 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 63,934 yes 1 2 USC Swann 92-yard punt return (Rae kick) USC 7–0 USC McNeill 8-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–0 2 2 USC McKay 9-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 21–0 MSU Werner 1-yard run (pass failed) USC 21–6 3 USC Rae 20-yard field goal USC 24–6 4 4 USC Wood 25-yard interception return (Rae kick) USC 31–6 USC Moore 9-yard pass from Haden (kick failed) USC 37–6 USC Carter 21-yard run (Limahelu kick) USC 44–6 USC Swann 30-yard pass from Haden (Limahelu kick) USC 51–6 yes 1972 Michigan State Spartans football team "Top-rated Trojans blitz Sparts, 51–6." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 1. At No. 15 Stanford No. 1 Trojans 13 7 3 7 No. 15 Cardinals 10 3 0 8 October 7 Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA 84,000 yes Q1 STAN J. Ferguson recovered fumble in end zone (Garcia kick) STAN 7–0 Q1 USC Davis 8-yard run (Rae kick) Tie 7–7 Q1 STAN Garcia 49-yard field goal STAN 10–7 Q1 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (kick failed) USC 13–10 Q2 STAN Garcia 35-yard field goal Tie 13–13 Q2 USC Davis 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 20–13 Q3 USC Rae 37-yard field goal USC 23–13 Q4 5:40 USC Swann 4-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 30–13 Q4 STAN Cross 30-yard pass from Boryla (Stone pass from Boryla) USC 30–21 yes 1972 Stanford Cardinals football team "USC gets revenge as Cards halted." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 8. California Golden Bears 0 0 7 7 No. 1 Trojans 14 7 14 7 October 14 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, California 56,488 yes 1 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 7-0 1 USC Rae 10-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14-0 2 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 21-0 3 CAL Schmidt 3-yard pass from Cruze (Wersching kick) USC 21-7 3 USC Rae 8-yard run (Rae kick) USC 28-7 3 USC Young 40-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 35-7 4 USC Young 9-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 42-7 4 CAL Youngblood 1-yard run (Wersching kick) USC 42-14 yes Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 15. No. 18 Washington Huskies 0 0 0 7 No. 1 Trojans 7 13 14 0 October 21 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 59,151 yes Q1 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 7–0 Q2 USC Davis 44-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–0 Q2 USC Rae 22-yard field goal USC 17–0 Q2 USC Rae 26-yard field goal USC 20–0 Q3 USC Davis 14-yard run (Rae kick) USC 27–0 Q3 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 34–0 Q4 WASH Fitzpatrick 10-yard run (Wiezbowski kick) USC 34–7 yes "Trojans overpower Washington by 34-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 22. At Oregon No. 1 Trojans 0 0 12 6 Webfoots 0 0 0 0 October 28 Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR 32,000 yes Q3 6:06 USC Davis 48-yard run USC 6–0 Q3 3:58 USC Davis 55-yard run USC 12–0 Q4 5:45 USC Cunningham 2-yard run USC 18–0 yes 1972 Oregon Ducks football team On a very rainy and cold day, the Trojans were held to their lowest score of the season. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XWwRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6394%2C7407270 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Cawood Neil Ducks, Fouts kayoed by Trojans October 29, 1972 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OK4pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TlMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7234%2C5145940 Pittsburgh Press UPI Davis leads Southern Cal past Oregon October 29, 1972 D-8https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vlNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1384%2C2697187 The Bulletin Bend, Oregon UPI Ducks stubborn, but finally fall October 30, 1972 9 Washington State No. 1 Trojans 3 14 7 20 Cougars 3 0 0 0 November 4 Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA yes 1 USC Rae 23-yard field goal USC 3-0 1 WSU Danelo 50-yard field goal Tied 3-3 2 USC Rae 11-yard run (Rae kick) USC 10-3 2 USC Davis 3-yard run (Rae kick) USC 17-3 3 USC Davis 6-yard run (Rae kick) USC 24-3 4 USC Davis 14-yard run (Rae kick) USC 31-3 4 USC Moore 1-yard run (kick failed) USC 37-3 4 USC Powell 21-yard interception return (Rae kick) USC 44-3 yes https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19721105&printsec=frontpage&hl=en Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search At No. 14 UCLA No. 1 Trojans 10 7 7 0 No. 14 Bruins 7 0 0 0 November 18 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 82,929 Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson ABC yes 1 3 USC Rae 32-yard field goal USC 3–0 USC Davis 23-yard run (Rae kick) USC 10–0 UCLA McAlister 2-yard run (Herrera kick) USC 10–7 2 USC McNeill 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 17–7 3 USC Rae 7-yard run (Rae kick) USC 24–7 yes Anthony Davis 25 Rush, 178 Yds "Trojans roll past Bruins, 24-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Nov 19. No. 10 Notre Dame No. 10 Fighting Irish 3 7 13 0 No. 1 Trojans 19 0 13 13 December 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 75,243 yes 1 4 USC Davis 97-yard kickoff return (kick failed) USC 6-0 ND Thomas 45-yard field goal USC 6-3 USC Davis 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 13-3 USC Davis 5-yard run (kick failed) USC 19-3 2 ND W. Townsend 5-yard pass from Clements (Thomas kick) USC 19-10 3 3 USC Davis 4-yard run (run failed) USC 25-10 ND Diminick 11-yard pass from Clements (Thomas kick) USC 25-17 ND Creaney 10-yard pass from Clements (pass failed) USC 25-23 4 3 USC Davis 96-yard kickoff return (Rae kick) USC 32-23 USC Davis 8-yard run (Rae kick) USC 39-23 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (kick failed) USC 45-23 yes "Davis' spree leads USC to 45-23 rout." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Dec 3. Vs. No. 3 Ohio State (Rose Bowl) No. 3 Buckeyes 0 7 3 7 No. 1 Trojans 7 0 21 14 January 1 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA 106,869 yes 1 USC Swann 10-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 7–0 2 OHST Keith 1-yard run (Conway kick) Tie 7–7 3 4 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–7 OHST Conway 21-yard field goal USC 14–10 USC Davis 20-yard run (Rae kick) USC 21–10 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 28–10 Q4 3 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 35–10 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 42–10 OHST Bledsoe 5-yard run (Conway kick) USC 42–17 yes 1973 Rose Bowl 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team John McKay's 100th career victory Anthony Davis 157 Rush Yds Sam Cunningham set Rose Bowl scoring record (previous - 18 by three players) "It's 'bring on Miami' after USC wins easily." Eugene Register-Guard. 1973 Jan 2. Roster 1972 USC Trojans y 10 So Pat Haden QB y 6 Sr Mike Rae QB y So Allen Carter RB y 39 Sr Sam Cunningham RB y 28 So Anthony Davis RB y Anthony Davis (running back, born 1952) 27 Jr Rod McNeill RB y 22 Jr Lynn Swann WR y 77 Sr Pete Adams OT y 89 Sr Charle Young TE y John Grant DE y John Grant (American football) Karl Lorch DT y Greg Marderian DT y Jeff Winans DT y 6 Sr Mike Rae K y John McKay https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XGwRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5654%2C7201463 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Starting lineups October 28, 1972 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6dgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2741%2C329737 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette TV bowl rosters: Rose Bowl January 1, 1973 62 Roster: Undefeated University of Southern California football team: John McKay (Head Coach); Willie Brown (Assistant Coach); Anthony Davis #28 A.D.; Danny Reece #46; J.D. Winans #92; Jim Lee #96; Dale Mitchell #85; Rob Adolph #9; Rod McNeill; Chris Vella #81; Ray Rodriguez #52; Steve Fate #47; Manfred Moore #44; Ken Gray #37; J.K. McKay; Chris Chaney #15; Allen Carter #21; Charles Phillips #45; Charlie Hinton #26; Edesel Garrison; Mike Smith; Marvin Cobb #24; Monte Doris #72; Cliff Culbreath #54; Steve Riley; Charles Anthony #55; Wayne Fontes; James Givehand #88; Sam Cunningham #39; Pete Adams #77; Mike Rae; Karl Lorch #79; Mike Hancock #95; Glen Byrd #82; James Psycho Sims #41; George Follett #70; Bob McCaffrey; Mike Ryan #68; Eddie Johnson #11; Alan Pekarcik #48; Booker Brown; Allan Graf #61; Coach Marv Goux; and John Robinson NFL draft Ten Trojans were selected in the 1973 NFL draft, with three in the first round. References External links Game program: #1 USC vs. Washington State at Seattle – November 4, 1972 USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons USC Trojans football