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American college football season
The 1968 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1968 NCAA University Division football season . In their ninth year under head coach John McKay , the Trojans compiled a 9–1–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 259 to 168.[ 1] The team was ranked #2 in the final Coaches Poll and #4 in the final AP Poll.
Steve Sogge led the team in passing, completing 122 of 207 passes for 1,454 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. O. J. Simpson led the team in rushing with 383 carries for 1,880 yards and 23 touchdowns. Jim Lawrence led the team in receiving with 26 catches for 386 yards and two touchdowns.[ 2] Simpson won both the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Award .
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 21 at No. 16 Minnesota * No. 2 W 29–2060,820 [ 3]
September 28 at Northwestern * No. 3 W 24–747,277 [ 4]
October 5 No. 13 Miami (FL) * No. 2 W 28–371,189 [ 5]
October 12 at No. 18 Stanford No. 2 W 27–2481,000 [ 6]
October 19 Washington No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 14–760,990 [ 7]
November 2 at Oregon No. 1 W 20–1333,500 [ 8]
November 9 No. 11 California No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 35–1780,871 [ 9]
November 16 No. 13 Oregon State No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 17–1359,236 [ 10]
November 23 at UCLA No. 1 W 28–1675,066 [ 11]
November 30 No. 9 Notre Dame * No. 2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry ) T 21–2182,659 [ 12]
, 1969 vs. No. 1 Ohio State * No. 2 L 16–27102,063 [ 13]
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1968 USC Trojans football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Source: [ 14] [ 15] [ 16]
OJ Simpson 39 rushes, 236 yards [ 17]
O.J. Simpson 47 rushes, 220 yards [ 18]
O.J. Simpson 47 rushes, 238 yards [ 19]
[ 20]
Vs. Ohio State (Rose Bowl)[ edit ]
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 USC
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 1 Buckeyes
0
10 3 14
27
No. 2 Trojans
0
10 0 6
16
Scoring summary 2 9:40 USC Ayala 21-yard field goal USC 3–0
2 6:38 USC Simpson 80-yard run (Ayala kick) USC 10–0
2 1:45 OSU Otis 1-yard run (Roman kick) USC 10–7
2 0:03 OSU Roman 26-yard field goal Tie 10–10
3 1:40 OSU Roman 25-yard field goal OSU 13–10
4 13:52 OSU Hayden 4-yard pass from Kern (Roman kick) OSU 20–10
4 10:05 OSU Gillian 16-yard pass from Kern (Roman kick) OSU 27–10
4 0:45 USC Dickerson 19-yard pass from Sogge (pass failed) OSU 27–16
Eight Trojans were selected in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft , held in late January.
Source: [ 22]
^ "Southern California Yearly Results (1965-1969)" . College Football Data Warehouse . David DeLassus. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015 .
^ "1968 Southern California Trojans Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2015 .
^ "O.J. dashes past Minnesota, 29–20" . The Des Moines Register . September 22, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "O.J., another big day; Scores 3 TDs as Troy topples 'Cats" . The San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle . September 29, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "O.J. scores two at USC tames Miami" . The News Tribune . October 6, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Simpson-led Trojans nip Tribe in 27–24 thriller" . The Modesto Bee . October 13, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Trojans nip Huskies, 14–7" . Richmond Times-Dispatch . October 20, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Top-ranked Southern Cal turns back Oregon, 20–13" . Tri-City Herald . November 3, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Trojans come to life as Bears die, 35–17" . The Sun-Telegram . November 10, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "4th quarter USC explosion blasts Oregon State 17–13" . The Sacramento Bee . November 17, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "UCLA gets close, then O.J. runs away" . The Los Angeles Times . November 24, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Notre Dame, USC tie 21–21" . The Courier-Journal . December 1, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Ohio State rallies for easy win over USC in Rose Bowl" . The Los Angeles Times . January 2, 1969. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Probable lineups" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). November 1, 1968. p. 3B.
^ "Football statistics" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). November 3, 1968. p. 2B.
^ "TV rosters: Rose Bowl" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . January 1, 1969. p. 52.
^ 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement
^ 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement
^ 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement
^ Jenkins, Dan (December 9, 1968). "THE DAY THEY TIED UP O.J." Sports Illustrated . Retrieved August 25, 2019 .
^ "Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy" . Archived from the original on April 11, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007 .
^ "1969 NFL Draft" . Sports Reference . Retrieved December 14, 2019 .
Venues Bowls and rivalries Culture and lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Pacific Coast AAWU Pacific-8 Pacific-10 Pac-12 National championships in bold