1970 USC Trojans football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1970 USC Trojans football Pacific-8 Conference Pac-8 19 15 6–4–1 3–4 John McKay 11th Bob Chandler Charlie Weaver Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The 1970 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. In their 11th year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled a 6–4–1 record (3–4 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for sixth place in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 343 to 233.Southern California Yearly Results (1970-1974) David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse July 20, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1970-1974_yearly_results.php July 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150722092723/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1970-1974_yearly_results.php dead The team was ranked #15 in the final AP Poll and #19 in the final Coaches Poll. On September 12, 1970, USC opened the season visiting the University of Alabama under coach Bear Bryant and became the first fully integrated team to play in the State of Alabama. Yaeger Don Sam Cunningham John Papadakis Turning of the Tide: How One Game Changed the South https://archive.org/details/turningoftidehow0000yaeg registration Center Street September 1, 2006 1-931722-94-3 The game, scheduled by Bryant, resulted in a 42–21 win for the Trojans. More importantly, all six touchdowns scored by USC team were by African-American players, two by USC running back Sam "Bam" Cunningham, against an all-white Crimson Tide team.Trojans Have Horses Lenn Robbins http://www.nypost.com/seven/08262007/sports/trojans_have_the_horses.htm?page=0 New York Post August 26, 2007 August 26, 2007 September 29, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122820/http://www.nypost.com/seven/08262007/sports/trojans_have_the_horses.htm?page=0 dead The game hastened the racial integration of football at Alabama and in the American South.The Dash Is Off and Running Pat Forde https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2993475 ESPN August 28, 2007 August 28, 2007 Jimmy Jones led the team in passing, completing 121 of 234 passes for 1,877 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Clarence Davis led the team in rushing with 214 carries for 972 yards and nine touchdowns. Bob Chandler led the team in receiving with 41 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns.1970 Southern California Trojans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 21, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1970.html Schedule 1970 AP Pacific September 12 w y y 3 Alabama 16 Legion Field Birmingham, AL 42–21 72,175 Charles Land Tough Trojans top Tide, 42–21 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QyseAAAAIBAJ&pg=6062%2C1863107 The Tuscaloosa News September 13, 1970 January 20, 2014Ronnie Thomas Tide drubbed 42–21 by USC 17 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oycsAAAAIBAJ&pg=1109%2C2057392 The Florence Times September 13, 1970 January 20, 2014 September 19 t y 3 Nebraska 9 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 21–21 73,768 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-huskers-battle-mighty-tro/183288841/ The Fresno Bee Huskers battle mighty Trojans to 21–21 tie September 20, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 w y y 7 Iowa Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 48–0 56,131 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-trojans-clobber-iowa/183288925/ Chicago Tribune Trojans clobber Iowa September 27, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 3 w 5 Oregon State Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 45–13 57,769 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-trojans-stomp-orego/183288997/ The Arizona Republic Trojans stomp Oregon St. October 4, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 l y 4 Stanford 12 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA rivalry 14–24 86,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-plunketts-passes-beat/183285407/ The News Tribune Plunkett's passes beat USC 24–14 October 11, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 w 11 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 28–25 56,166 https://www.newspapers.com/article/progress-bulletin-trojans-prevail/183286589/ Progress-Bulletin Trojans prevail October 18, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 l y 10 Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 7–10 34,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U6lVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4uADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6433%2C5062415 Eugene Register-Guard Cawood Neil Ducks stun USC, keep hopes alive October 25, 1970 1B October 19, 2025 Google News Archivehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B7FeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pS8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5461%2C5179826 Lewiston Morning Tribune Associated Press Oregon upsets USC October 25, 1970 16 October 19, 2025 Google News Archive October 31 1:23 p.m. l y 18 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 10–13 54,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-cal-stuns-trojans-on-lon/183288222/ Tri-City Herald Cal stuns Trojans on long field goal November 1, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 w y Washington State Joe Albi Stadium Spokane, WA 70–33 14,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-trojans-trap-skiin-bury/183289096/ Independent Press-Telegram Trojans trap, skiin, bury Cougars, 70–33 November 8, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 l y UCLA Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Victory Bell 20–45 78,773 https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-bruins-sack-troy-45/183287656/ Ventura County Star-Free Press Bruins sack Troy, 45–20 November 22, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 28 w y Notre Dame 4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry 38–28 64,694 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-southern-cal-s/182561694/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Southern Cal shatters Irish win string, 38–28 November 29, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1970 Southern California) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/296732 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 19, 2025 Game summaries Alabama USC 12 10 10 10 Alabama 0 7 6 8 September 12 Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama Source: yes 1 USC Cunningham 22-yard run (kick failed) USC 6-0 1 USC Cunningham 4-yard run (pass failed) USC 12-0 2 USC Ayala 32-yard field goal USC 15-0 2 ALA Musso 1-yard run (Clemny kick) USC 15-7 2 USC Evans 7-yard run (Ayala kick) USC 22-7 3 USC Davis 23-yard pass from Jones (Ayala kick) USC 29-7 3 USC Ayala 25-yard field goal USC 32-7 3 ALA Bailey 6-yard pass from Hayden (kick failed) USC 32-13 4 USC Ayala 27-yard field goal USC 35-13 4 USC Holland 6-yard pass from Rae (Ayala kick) USC 42-13 4 ALA Musso 1-yard run (Hunter to Ceav pass) USC 42-21 yes Nebraska August 2015 Iowa USC 7 27 14 0 Iowa 0 0 0 0 September 26 Iowa Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 56,131 yes 1 USC Jones 1-yard run (Ayala kick) USC 7-0 2 USC Davis 3-yard run (Ayala kick) USC 14-0 2 USC Jones 8-yard run (kick failed) USC 20-0 2 USC Chandler 9-yard pass from Jones (Dickerson pass from Jones) USC 28-0 2 USC Rae 4-yard run (run failed) USC 34-0 3 USC Harris 1-yard run (Ayala kick) USC 41-0 3 USC McNeill 4-yard run (Ayala kick) USC 48-0 yes Trojans Roll Past Iowa The Register-Guard Eugene, Oregon September 27, 1970 Oregon State Jimmy Jones 15/21, 304 Yds, 3 TD, rush TD Jimmy Jones quiets critics by passing USC past OSU The Register-Guard Eugene, Oregon October 4, 1970 Notre Dame Notre Dame 7 7 7 7 USC 21 3 14 0 November 28 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles 64,694 Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson ABC yes 1 ND Theismann 25-yard run (Hempel kick) ND 7-0 1 USC Davis 3-yard run (Ayala kick) Tied 7-7 1 USC Davis 5-yard run (kick failed) USC 13-7 1 USC Dickerson 45-yard pass from Jones (Jones to Chandler pass) USC 21-7 2 ND Cieszkowski 9-yard pass from Theismann (Hempel kick) USC 21-14 2 USC Ayala 19-yard field goal USC 24-14 3 USC Adams recovered fumble in end zone (Ayala kick) USC 31-14 3 USC Vella recovered fumble in end zone (Ayala kick) USC 38-14 3 ND Parker 46-yard pass from Theismann (Hempel kick) USC 38-21 4 ND Theismann 1-yard run (Hempel kick) USC 38-28 yes Trojans Down Irish by 38-28 The Register-Guard Eugene November 29, 1970 Personnel 1970 USC Trojans f 77 So Pete Adams OT y Mike Berry RB 57 So Dave Brown C 10 Sr Bob Chandler WR y C 39 So Sam Cunningham RB y 28 Sr Clarence Davis RB y 18 Sr Sam Dickerson WR 33 Sr Charlie Evans Charlie Evans (American football) RB y 61 So Allan Graf G Lou Harris RB Bill Holland RB 8 Jr Jimmy Jones QB y Jimmy Jones (quarterback) 27 So Rod McNeill RB 78 Sr Marv Montgomery OT y 22 Jr Mike Morgan WR 86 Sr Gerry Mullins TE y 6 So Mike Rae QB y 68 So Mike Ryan G 81 So Chris Vella TE 75 Jr John Vella OT y 60 Sr Wayne Yary G 89 Jr Charle Young TE y 87 Jr Ken Carter DL 21 Jr Bruce Dyer DB Walt Failor DB 94 So John Grant John Grant (American football) DE y John Grissum DL 83 Sr Willie Hall Willie Hall (American football) DE y 50 Sr Mike Haluchak LB Tyrone Hudson DB 67 Jr John Papadakis LB Ron Preston LB John Skiles DL Greg Slough LB 93 Sr Tody Smith DT y 46 Jr Skip Thomas DB y Curt Timmons DB 84 Sr Charlie Weaver DL y C Ron Ayala K *John McKay Willie Brown – Assistant Dave Levy – Assistant Marv Goux – Assistant Craig Fertig – Assistant Phil Krueger – Assistant Rod Humenuik – Assistant Joe Gibbs – Assistant Pete Yoder – Running backs 1970 team players in the NFL The following players were claimed in the 1971 NFL draft. Player Position Round Pick NFL club Marv Montgomery Tackle 1 12 Denver Broncos Tody Smith Defensive tackle 1 25 Dallas Cowboys Charles Weaver Defensive end 2 48 Detroit Lions Sam Dickerson Wide receiver 3 55 San Francisco 49ers Gerry Mullins Tight end 4 86 Pittsburgh Steelers Clarence Davis Running back 4 97 Oakland Raiders Greg Slough Linebacker 6 149 Oakland Raiders Herman Franklin Wide receiver 6 152 Detroit Lions Bob Chandler Wide receiver 7 160 Buffalo Bills Charles Evans Running back 14 356 New York Giants https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1970.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231832/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1970.htm 2007-12-21 1970 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com References External links Game program: USC vs. Washington State at Spokane – November 7, 1970 USC Category:USC Trojans football seasons USC Trojans football