1955 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1955 USC Trojans football Pacific Coast Conference PCC 12 13 6–4 3–3 Jess Hill 5th Marv Goux George Galli Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The 1955 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1955 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Jess Hill, the Trojans compiled a 6–4 record (3–3 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place in the Pacific Coast Conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 265 to 158. Attendance at seven home games was 464,104, an average of 66,300. Attendance at all 10 games was 615,196.1956 "El Rodeo" (USC yeabook), page 190. Jim Contratto led the team in passing with 22 of 55 passes completed for 406 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. Jon Arnett led the team in rushing with 141 carries for 672 yards and 11 touchdowns. Arnett was also the team's leading punt returners with 16 returns and an average of 17.6 yards per return, including one returned for a touchdown. With three touchdown catches, Arnett also led the team with 15 touchdowns and 105 points scored.1956 "El Rodeo", page 190. Leon Clarke was the leading receiver with 15 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns.1955 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1955.html Two Trojans received first-team honors from the Associated Press on the 1955 All-Pacific Coast Conference football team: back Jon Arnett and guard Orlando Ferrante.Bruins Dominate PCC Star Team Picked by AP Bob Myers The Oregon Statesman November 23, 1955 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2579049/1955_ap_allpcc_team/ Arnett was also a two-time recipient of the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast, winning the award in both 1954 and 1955. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Schedule 1955 AP September 17 w 13 Washington State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 50–12 35,051 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-picayune-usc-wallops-wash-st/189225861/ The Times-Picayune USC wallops Wash. St., 50–12 September 18, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com September 23, 1955 w 9 Oregon Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 42–15 37,470 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-arnett-stars-as-tr/189223833/ The Bellingham Herald Arnett stars as Trojans win over Oregon Ducks, 42–15 September 25, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com September 30, 1955 w y 9 Texas Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 19–7 61,996 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123797362/texans-fly-home-with-197-loss/ Palo Alto Daily Times Texans fly home with 19–7 loss October 1, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com October 8 l y 10 Washington 18 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 0–7 35,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-sensational-80-yard/189224953/ The Billings Gazette Sensational 80-yard scoring play gives Huskies 7–0 win over USC October 9, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com October 14, 1955 w y 16 Wisconsin 6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 33–21 75,162 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-shreveport-journal-southern-cal-smea/189226122/ The Shreveport Journal Southern Cal smears Wisconsin, 33–21 October 15, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com October 22 w y 10 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 33–6 51,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-sc-explodes-to-thum/189226246/ The Spokesman-Review SC explodes to thump Cal October 23, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com October 29 l y y 10 Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 19–25 64,592 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-minnesota-turns/189226401/ The Des Moines Register Minnesota turns U.S.C. errors into 25–19 victory October 30, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 5 l y 16 Stanford Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 20–28 63,222 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-indians-and-bears-s/189223143/ The Sacramento Union Indians and Bears spring big upsets November 6, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 19 l UCLA 5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 7–17 95,878 https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-ucla-lands-berth/189221241/ Democrat and Chronicle UCLA lands berth in Rose Bowl, ripping Trojans, 17–7, before 95,878 November 20, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com November 26 w y Notre Dame 5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 42–20 94,892 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-usc-blasts-irish/189226577/ The Kansas City Star U.S.C. blasts Irish, 42 to 20 November 27, 1955 January 18, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1955 Southern California) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/333393 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics January 18, 2026 Players The following players were members of the 1955 USC football team.1956 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), pages 167-187. Fabian Abram, tackle Jon Arnett, junior tailback #26 ("led the team in total offense, punt returns, kickoff returns, punting, rushing, scoring and in total playing time")1956 "El Rodeo", page 176. George Belotti, tackle Bing Bordier, end Ron Brown, back Leon Clarke, end (the first PCC player to be selected in the 1956 NFL draft, selected 14th overall by the Los Angeles Rams) Jim Contratto, quarterback Gordon Duvall, back (offense) and linebacker (defense) Dick Eldredge, center Dick Enright, tackle Orlando Ferrante, guard (All-PCC, 62 unassisted tackles, 41 assists) Ron Fletcher, tackle George Galli, guard (co-captain) Marv Goux (co-captain) Frank Hall, quarterback Don Hickman Bob Isaacson Ludwig Keehn, end Ells Kissinger, quarterback Doug Kranz, halfback Chuck Leimbach, end Don McFarland Ernie Merk (set a USC record with a 93-yard punt return against Minnesota) John Miller, guard Chuck Perpich Fred Pierce, left halfback C. R. Roberts, fullback Karl Rubke, center Vern Sampson, lineman Roy Smith, tackle Joe Tisdale Laird Willott, guard Dick Westphal Ernie Zampese, tailback Coaching staff and other personnel Head coach: Jess Hill1956 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), page 164. Assistant coaches: Nick Pappas (defensive backs), Don Clark (line coach), George Ceithaml (offensive backfield coach), Mel Hein (line coach), Bill Fisk (end coach), Jess Mortensen (freshman coach)1956 "El Rodeo", page 165. Senior manager: Jim Maddux1956 "El Rodeo", page 166. Yell kings: Bill Hillinck, Kent Blanche, Al Green, Woody Wilmore, Larry Knudsen1956 "El Rodeo", page 163. References USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons USC Trojans football