The 1977 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their second year under head coach John Robinson, the Trojans compiled a 8–4 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 357 to 212.[1] The team was ranked #12 in the final UPI Coaches Poll and #13 in the final AP Poll.
Quarterback Rob Hertel led the team in passing, completing 132 of 245 passes for 2,145 yards with 19 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Charles White led the team in rushing with 285 carries for 1,478 yards and seven touchdowns. Randy Simmrin led the team in receiving with 41 catches for 840 yards and five touchdowns.[2]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 10 | at Missouri* | No. 4 | | | W 27–10 | 65,298 | [3] |
September 17 | at Oregon State | No. 2 | | | W 17–10 | 31,143 | [4] |
September 24 | TCU* | No. 2 | | | W 51–0 | 54,620 | [5] |
| Washington State | No. 2 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| | W 41–7 | 61,809 | [6] |
October 8 | No. 7 Alabama* | No. 1 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| ABC | L 20–21 | 63,140 | [7] |
October 15 | Oregon | No. 6 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| | W 33–15 | 51,120 | [8] |
October 22 | at No. 11 Notre Dame* | No. 5 | | ABC | L 19–49 | 59,075 | [9] |
October 29 | at California | No. 10 | | | L 14–17 | 76,780 | [10] |
November 5 | Stanford | No. 16 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
| | W 49–0 | 65,101 | [11] |
November 12 | at Washington | No. 14 | | | L 10–28 | 59,501 | [12] |
| No. 17 UCLA | | | ABC | W 29–27 | 86,168 | [13] |
December 31 | vs. No. 17 Texas A&M* | No. 20 | | Mizlou | W 47–28 | 52,842 | [14] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
Game summaries
UCLA
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• USC |
0 |
17 | 9 | 3 |
29 |
UCLA |
10 |
0 | 7 | 10 |
27 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | UCLA | Carrol 52-yard field goal | UCLA 3–0 |
|
1 | | UCLA | Brown 1-yard run (Carrol kick) | UCLA 10–0 |
|
2 | | USC | Jordan 25-yard field goal | UCLA 10–3 |
|
2 | | USC | Gay 20-yard pass from Hertel (kick failed) | UCLA 10–9 |
|
2 | | USC | Williams 40-yard pass from Hertel (Gay pass from Hertel) | USC 16–10 |
|
3 | 9:57 | USC | Williams 27-yard pass from Hertel (kick failed) | USC 23–10 |
|
3 | | USC | Jordan 36-yard field goal | USC 26–10 |
|
3 | | UCLA | Owens 32-yard pass from Bashore (Carrol kick) | USC 26–17 |
|
4 | | UCLA | Carrol 20-yard field goal | USC 26–20 |
|
4 | 2:51 | UCLA | Pederson 2-yard pass from Bashore (Carrol kick) | UCLA 27–26 |
|
4 | :02 | USC | Jordan 38-yard field goal | USC 29–27 |
[15]
Roster
1977 USC Trojans football team roster
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Players
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Coaches
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Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
K
|
|
Frank Jordan
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
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References
- ^ "Southern California Yearly Results (1975-1979)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "1977 Southern California Trojans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Trojans get revenge, 27–10". The Des Moines Register. September 11, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojan 50-yard pass averts Beavers upset". Ventura County Star. September 18, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "USC, TCU streaks intact". The Daily Breeze. September 25, 1977. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans overpower Cougars". The Bakersfield Californian. October 1, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Alabama hangs on to upset Trojans". The Register. October 9, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans storm back against Oregon". The Kansas City Star. October 16, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Holder's 2 plays spur Irish romp over No. 5 USC". The Lima News. October 23, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "California stymies USC, 17–14". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 30, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans rout Cards". Contra Costa Times. November 6, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dog day afternoon for the Huskies". The News Tribune. November 13, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jordan redeems self with game-winner". The Billings Gazette. November 26, 1977. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans' offense trounces Aggies". Ventura County Star. January 1, 1978. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard. November 26, 1977
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National championship seasons in bold |