1972 USC Trojans football
122 × 182
Consensus national champion
Pac-8 champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 42–17 vs. Ohio State
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record12–0 (7–0 Pac-8)
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
1972 Pacific-8 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 USC $ 7 –0 –012 –0 –0
No. 15 UCLA 5 –2 –08 –3 –0
No. 19 Washington State 4 –3 –07 –4 –0
Washington 4 –3 –08 –3 –0
California 3 –4 –03 –8 –0
Oregon 2 –5 –05 –6 –0
Stanford 2 –5 –06 –5 –0
Oregon State 1 –6 –02 –9 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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 12 of their games and were consensus national champions.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 9at No. 4 Arkansas*No. 8
W 31–1054,461
September 16Oregon StateNo. 1
W 51–656,305
September 23at Illinois*No. 1
W 55–2061,277
September 30Michigan State*No. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 51–663,934
October 7at No. 15 StanfordNo. 1
W 30–2184,000
October 14CaliforniaNo. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 42–1456,488
October 21No. 18 WashingtondaggerNo. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 34–759,151
October 28OregonNo. 1
W 18–032,000
November 4vs. Washington StateNo. 1
W 44–346,000
November 18at No. 14 UCLANo. 1
W 24–782,929
December 2No. 10 Notre Dame*No. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
W 45–2375,243
January 1, 1973vs. No. 3 Ohio State*No. 1
W 42–17106,869
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1972 USC Trojans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 10 Pat Haden So
QB 6 Mike Rae Sr
RB Allen Carter So
RB 39 Sam Cunningham Sr
RB 28 Anthony Davis So
RB 27 Rod McNeill Jr
WR 22 Lynn Swann Jr
OT 77 Pete Adams Sr
TE 89 Charle Young Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DE John Grant
DT Karl Lorch
DT Jeff Winans
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 6 Mike Rae Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt
    Source:[1][2]

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    PollPre12345678910111213Final
    AP81 (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)
    Coaches82 (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)Not released

    Game summaries

    At No. 4 Arkansas

    1 234Total
    • No. 8 Trojans 0 31414 31
    No. 4 Razorbacks 3 007 10
       
    Scoring summary
    1ARKBolton 27-yard field goalARK 3–0
    2USCRae 26-yard field goalTie 3–3
    3USCRae 5-yard run (Rae kick)USC 10–3
    USCMcNeill 18-yard run (Rae kick)USC 17–3
    4USCMcNeill 3-yard run (Rae kick)USC 24–3
    ARKRichardson 1-yard run (Bolton kick)USC 24–10
    USCCunningham 18-yard run (Rae kick)USC 31–10

    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.[3]

    Oregon State

    1 234Total
    Beavers 0 600 6
    • No. 1 Trojans 7 131714 51
    Scoring summary
    Q111:20USCMcNeill 14-yard run (Rae kick)USC 7–0
    Q214:37USCMcNeill 2-yard run (Rae kick)USC 14–0
    Q29:40ORSTMorris 10-yard run (kick failed)USC 14–6
    Q27:35USCMcNeill 5-yard run (kick failed)USC 20–6
    Q38:48USCRae 20-yard field goalUSC 23–6
    Q33:11USCYoung 37-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick)USC 30–6
    Q31:32USCMcKay 3-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick)USC 37–6
    Q44:19USCHaden 10-yard run (Rae kick)USC 44–6
    Q4:55USCWashmara 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 51–6

    [4]

    • Anthony Davis 25 rushes, 206 yards [5]

    At Illinois

    1 234Total
    • No. 1 Trojans 7 131520 55
    Fighting Illini 7 760 20
    Scoring summary
    Q14:26ILLHayes 5-yard run (Rucks kick)ILL 7–0
    Q1USCGarrison 58-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick)Tie 7–7
    Q2ILLUremovich 5-yard run (Rucks kick)ILL 14–7
    Q2USCDavis 2-yard run (Rae kick)Tie 14–14
    Q2:21USCMcKay 31-yard pass from Rae (kick failed)USC 20–14
    Q3USCDavis 2-yard run (McKay pass from Davis)USC 28–14
    Q3ILLHayes 1-yard run (run failed)USC 28–20
    Q3USCCunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick)USC 35–20
    Q4USCSims 35-yard blocked punt return (Rae kick)USC 42–20
    Q4USCMcKay 6-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick)USC 49–20
    Q4USCCarter 1-yard run (kick failed)USC 55–20

    [6][7]

    Michigan State

    1 234Total
    Spartans 0 600 6
    • No. 1 Trojans 14 7327 51
         
    Scoring summary
    1USCSwann 92-yard punt return (Rae kick)USC 7–0
    USCMcNeill 8-yard run (Rae kick)USC 14–0
    2USCMcKay 9-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick)USC 21–0
    MSUWerner 1-yard run (pass failed)USC 21–6
    3USCRae 20-yard field goalUSC 24–6
    4USCWood 25-yard interception return (Rae kick)USC 31–6
    USCMoore 9-yard pass from Haden (kick failed)USC 37–6
    USCCarter 21-yard run (Limahelu kick)USC 44–6
    USCSwann 30-yard pass from Haden (Limahelu kick)USC 51–6

    [8]

    At No. 15 Stanford

    1 234Total
    • No. 1 Trojans 13 737 30
    No. 15 Cardinals 10 308 21
    Scoring summary
    Q1STANJ. Ferguson recovered fumble in end zone (Garcia kick)STAN 7–0
    Q1USCDavis 8-yard run (Rae kick)Tie 7–7
    Q1STANGarcia 49-yard field goalSTAN 10–7
    Q1USCCunningham 2-yard run (kick failed)USC 13–10
    Q2STANGarcia 35-yard field goalTie 13–13
    Q2USCDavis 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 20–13
    Q3USCRae 37-yard field goalUSC 23–13
    Q45:40USCSwann 4-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick)USC 30–13
    Q4STANCross 30-yard pass from Boryla (Stone pass from Boryla)USC 30–21

    [9]

    California

    1 234Total
    Golden Bears 0 077 14
    • No. 1 Trojans 14 7147 42
    Scoring summary
    1USCCunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 7-0
    1USCRae 10-yard run (Rae kick)USC 14-0
    2USCCunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 21-0
    3CALSchmidt 3-yard pass from Cruze (Wersching kick)USC 21-7
    3USCRae 8-yard run (Rae kick)USC 28-7
    3USCYoung 40-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick)USC 35-7
    4USCYoung 9-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick)USC 42-7
    4CALYoungblood 1-yard run (Wersching kick)USC 42-14

    [10]

    No. 18 Washington

    1 234Total
    Huskies 0 007 7
    • No. 1 Trojans 7 13140 34
    Scoring summary
    Q1USCCunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick)USC 7–0
    Q2USCDavis 44-yard run (Rae kick)USC 14–0
    Q2USCRae 22-yard field goalUSC 17–0
    Q2USCRae 26-yard field goalUSC 20–0
    Q3USCDavis 14-yard run (Rae kick)USC 27–0
    Q3USCCunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 34–0
    Q4WASHFitzpatrick 10-yard run (Wiezbowski kick)USC 34–7

    [11]

    Oregon

    1 234Total
    • No. 1 Trojans 0 0126 18
    Webfoots 0 000 0
    Scoring summary
    Q36:06USCDavis 48-yard runUSC 6–0
    Q33:58USCDavis 55-yard runUSC 12–0
    Q45:45USCCunningham 2-yard runUSC 18–0

    On a very rainy and cold day, the Trojans were held to their lowest score of the season.

    [12][13][14]

    Washington State

    1 234Total
    • No. 1 Trojans 3 14720 44
    Cougars 3 000 3
    Scoring summary
    1USCRae 23-yard field goalUSC 3-0
    1WSUDanelo 50-yard field goalTied 3-3
    2USCRae 11-yard run (Rae kick)USC 10-3
    2USCDavis 3-yard run (Rae kick)USC 17-3
    3USCDavis 6-yard run (Rae kick)USC 24-3
    4USCDavis 14-yard run (Rae kick)USC 31-3
    4USCMoore 1-yard run (kick failed)USC 37-3
    4USCPowell 21-yard interception return (Rae kick)USC 44-3

    [15]

    At No. 14 UCLA

    1 234Total
    • No. 1 Trojans 10 770 24
    No. 14 Bruins 7 000 7
      
    Scoring summary
    1USCRae 32-yard field goalUSC 3–0
    USCDavis 23-yard run (Rae kick)USC 10–0
    UCLAMcAlister 2-yard run (Herrera kick)USC 10–7
    2USCMcNeill 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 17–7
    3USCRae 7-yard run (Rae kick)USC 24–7

    Anthony Davis 25 Rush, 178 Yds

    [16]

    No. 10 Notre Dame

    1 234Total
    No. 10 Fighting Irish 3 7130 23
    • No. 1 Trojans 19 01313 45
           
    Scoring summary
    1USCDavis 97-yard kickoff return (kick failed)USC 6-0
    NDThomas 45-yard field goalUSC 6-3
    USCDavis 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 13-3
    USCDavis 5-yard run (kick failed)USC 19-3
    2NDW. Townsend 5-yard pass from Clements (Thomas kick)USC 19-10
    3USCDavis 4-yard run (run failed)USC 25-10
    NDDiminick 11-yard pass from Clements (Thomas kick)USC 25-17
    NDCreaney 10-yard pass from Clements (pass failed)USC 25-23
    4USCDavis 96-yard kickoff return (Rae kick)USC 32-23
    USCDavis 8-yard run (Rae kick)USC 39-23
    USCCunningham 1-yard run (kick failed)USC 45-23

    [17]

    Vs. No. 3 Ohio State (Rose Bowl)

    1 234Total
    No. 3 Buckeyes 0 737 17
    • No. 1 Trojans 7 02114 42
         
    Scoring summary
    1USCSwann 10-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick)USC 7–0
    2OHSTKeith 1-yard run (Conway kick)Tie 7–7
    3USCCunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick)USC 14–7
    OHSTConway 21-yard field goalUSC 14–10
    USCDavis 20-yard run (Rae kick)USC 21–10
    USCCunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 28–10
    Q4USCCunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 35–10
    USCCunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick)USC 42–10
    OHSTBledsoe 5-yard run (Conway kick)USC 42–17

    [18]

    NFL Draft

    Ten Trojans were selected in the 1973 NFL Draft, with three in the first round.

    References

    1. ↑ "Starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 28, 1972. p. 1B.
    2. ↑ "TV bowl rosters: Rose Bowl". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1973. p. 62.
    3. ↑ "U.S.C. Turns Back Arkansas, 31-10". The New York Times. September 10, 1972. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
    4. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Sept 17.
    5. ↑ 2020 USC Media Guide Supplement
    6. ↑ "USC Buries Illinois." 1972 Sept 24.
    7. ↑ "Trojans Rip Illinois." Palm Beach Post. 1972 Sept 24.
    8. ↑ "Top-rated Trojans blitz Sparts, 51–6." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 1.
    9. ↑ "USC gets revenge as Cards halted." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 8.
    10. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 15.
    11. ↑ "Trojans overpower Washington by 34-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 22.
    12. ↑ Cawood, Neil (October 29, 1972). "Ducks, Fouts kayoed by Trojans". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1C.
    13. ↑ "Davis leads Southern Cal past Oregon". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 29, 1972. p. D-8.
    14. ↑ "Ducks stubborn, but finally fall". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. October 30, 1972. p. 9.
    15. ↑ "Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search".
    16. ↑ "Trojans roll past Bruins, 24-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Nov 19.
    17. ↑ "Davis' spree leads USC to 45-23 rout." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Dec 3.
    18. ↑ "It's 'bring on Miami' after USC wins easily." Eugene Register-Guard. 1973 Jan 2.
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