1972 USC Trojans football team

1972 USC Trojans football
Consensus national champion Pac-8 champion Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 42–17 vs. Ohio State
Conference	Pacific-8 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
1972 record	12–0 (7–0 Pac-8)
Head coach	John McKay
Captain	Sam Cunningham
Captain	John Grant
Home stadium	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

1972 Pacific-8 football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 USC $	7	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
#15 UCLA	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
#19 Washington State	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Washington	4	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
California	3	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Oregon	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Stanford	2	–	5	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Oregon State	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the 1972 college football season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 9	at No. 4 Arkansas*	No. 8	War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, AR	W 31–10	54,461
September 16	Oregon State	No. 1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA	W 51–6	56,305
September 23	at Illinois*	No. 1	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 55–20	61,277
September 30	Michigan State*	No. 1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA	W 51–6	63,934
October 7	at No. 15 Stanford	No. 1	Stanford Stadium • Palo Alto, CA	W 30–21	84,000
October 14	California	No. 1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA	W 42–14	56,488
October 21	No. 18 Washington	No. 1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA	W 34–7	59,151
October 28	Oregon	No. 1	Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR	W 18–0	32,000
November 4	vs. Washington State	No. 1	Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA	W 44–3	46,000
November 18	at No. 14 UCLA	No. 1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA (Battle for the Victory Bell)	W 24–7	82,929
December 2	No. 10 Notre Dame*	No. 1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA (Notre Dame-USC rivalry)	W 45–23	75,243
January 1	vs. No. 3 Ohio State*	No. 1	Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	W 42–17	106,869
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll.

Game notes

Arkansas

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 0 3 14 14 31 Arkansas 3 0 0 7 10 Date: September 9 Location: War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AK Game attendance: 54,461

Scoring summary Q1 ARK Bolton 27-yard field goal ARK 3–0 Q2 USC Rae 26-yard field goal Tie 3–3 Q3 USC Rae 5-yard run (Rae kick) USC 10–3 Q3 USC McNeill 18-yard run (Rae kick) USC 17–3 Q4 USC McNeill 3-yard run (Rae kick) USC 24–3 Q4 ARK Richardson 1-yard run (Bolton kick) USC 24–10 Q4 USC Cunningham 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. ^[1]

Oregon State

1 2 3 4 Total Oregon St 0 6 0 0 6 • USC 7 13 17 14 51 Date: September 16 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA Game attendance: 56,305

Scoring summary Q1 11:20 USC McNeill 14-yard run (Rae kick) USC 7–0 Q2 14:37 USC McNeill 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–0 Q2 9:40 ORST Morris 10-yard run (kick failed) USC 14–6 Q2 7:35 USC McNeill 5-yard run (kick failed) USC 20–6 Q3 8:48 USC Rae 20-yard field goal USC 23–6 Q3 3:11 USC Young 37-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 30–6 Q3 1:32 USC McKay 3-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 37–6 Q4 4:19 USC Haden 10-yard run (Rae kick) USC 44–6 Q4 :55 USC Washmara 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 51–6

^[2]

Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 7 13 15 20 55 Illinois 7 7 6 0 20 Date: September 23 Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL Game attendance: 61,277

Scoring summary Q1 4:26 ILL Hayes 5-yard run (Rucks kick) ILL 7–0 Q1 USC Garrison 58-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 ILL Uremovich 5-yard run (Rucks kick) ILL 14–7 Q2 USC Davis 2-yard run (Rae kick) Tie 14–14 Q2 :21 USC McKay 31-yard pass from Rae (kick failed) USC 20–14 Q3 USC Davis 2-yard run (McKay pass from Davis) USC 28–14 Q3 ILL Hayes 1-yard run (run failed) USC 28–20 Q3 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 35–20 Q4 USC Sims 35-yard blocked punt return (Rae kick) USC 42–20 Q4 USC McKay 6-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 49–20 Q4 USC Carter 1-yard run (kick failed) USC 55–20

^[3][4]

Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan St 0 6 0 0 6 • USC 14 7 3 27 51 Date: September 30 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA Game attendance: 63,934

Scoring summary Q1 USC Swann 92-yard punt return (Rae kick) USC 7–0 Q1 USC McNeill 8-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–0 Q2 USC McKay 9-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 21–0 Q2 MSU Werner 1-yard run (pass failed) USC 21–6 Q3 USC Rae 20-yard field goal USC 24–6 Q4 USC Wood 25-yard interception return (Rae kick) USC 31–6 Q4 USC Moore 9-yard pass from Haden (kick failed) USC 37–6 Q4 USC Carter 21-yard run (Limahelu kick) USC 44–6 Q4 USC Swann 30-yard pass from Haden (Limahelu kick) USC 51–6

^[5]

Stanford

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 13 7 3 7 30 Stanford 10 3 0 8 21 Date: October 7 Location: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA Game attendance: 84,000

Scoring summary Q1 STAN J. Ferguson recovered fumble in end zone (Garcia kick) STAN 7–0 Q1 USC Davis 8-yard run (Rae kick) Tie 7–7 Q1 STAN Garcia 49-yard field goal STAN 10–7 Q1 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (kick failed) USC 13–10 Q2 STAN Garcia 35-yard field goal Tie 13–13 Q2 USC Davis 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 20–13 Q3 USC Rae 37-yard field goal USC 23–13 Q4 5:40 USC Swann 4-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 30–13 Q4 STAN Cross 30-yard pass from Boryla (Stone pass from Boryla) USC 30–21

^[6]

California

1 2 3 4 Total California 0 0 7 7 14 • USC 14 7 14 7 42 Date: October 14 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, California Game attendance: 56,488

Scoring summary 1 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 7-0 1 USC Rae 10-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14-0 2 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 21-0 3 CAL Schmidt 3-yard pass from Cruze (Wersching kick) USC 21-7 3 USC Rae 8-yard run (Rae kick) USC 28-7 3 USC Young 40-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 35-7 4 USC Young 9-yard pass from Haden (Rae kick) USC 42-7 4 CAL Youngblood 1-yard run (Wersching kick) USC 42-14

^[7]

Washington

1 2 3 4 Total Washington 0 0 0 7 7 • USC 7 13 14 0 34 Date: October 21 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA Game attendance: 59,151

Scoring summary Q1 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 7–0 Q2 USC Davis 44-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–0 Q2 USC Rae 22-yard field goal USC 17–0 Q2 USC Rae 26-yard field goal USC 20–0 Q3 USC Davis 14-yard run (Rae kick) USC 27–0 Q3 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 34–0 Q4 WASH Fitzpatrick 10-yard run (Wiezbowski kick) USC 34–7

^[8]

Oregon

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 0 0 12 6 18 Oregon 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 28 Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR Game attendance: 32,000

Scoring summary Q3 6:06 USC Davis 48-yard run USC 6–0 Q3 3:58 USC Davis 55-yard run USC 12–0 Q4 5:45 USC Cunningham 2-yard run USC 18–0

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

^[9]

Washington State

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 3 14 7 20 44 Washington State 3 0 0 0 3 Date: November 4 Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA

Scoring summary 1 USC Rae 23-yard field goal USC 3-0 1 WSU Danelo 50-yard field goal Tied 3-3 2 USC Rae 11-yard run (Rae kick) USC 10-3 2 USC Davis 3-yard run (Rae kick) USC 17-3 3 USC Davis 6-yard run (Rae kick) USC 24-3 4 USC Davis 14-yard run (Rae kick) USC 31-3 4 USC Moore 1-yard run (kick failed) USC 37-3 4 USC Powell 21-yard interception return (Rae kick) USC 44-3

^[10]

UCLA

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 10 7 7 0 24 UCLA 7 0 0 0 7 Date: November 18 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA Game attendance: 82,929

Scoring summary Q1 USC Rae 32-yard field goal USC 3–0 Q1 USC Davis 23-yard run (Rae kick) USC 10–0 Q1 UCLA McAlister 2-yard run (Herrera kick) USC 10–7 Q2 USC McNeill 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 17–7 Q3 USC Rae 7-yard run (Rae kick) USC 24–7

Anthony Davis 25 Rush, 178 Yds

^[11]

Notre Dame

1 2 3 4 Total Notre Dame 3 7 13 0 23 • USC 19 0 13 13 45 Date: December 2 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA Game attendance: 75,243

Scoring summary 1 USC Davis 97-yard kickoff return (kick failed) USC 6-0 1 ND Thomas 45-yard field goal USC 6-3 1 USC Davis 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 13-3 1 USC Davis 5-yard run (kick failed) USC 19-3 2 ND W. Townsend 5-yard pass from Clements (Thomas kick) USC 19-10 3 USC Davis 4-yard run (run failed) USC 25-10 3 ND Diminick 11-yard pass from Clements (Thomas kick) USC 25-17 3 ND Creaney 10-yard pass from Clements (pass failed) USC 25-23 4 USC Davis 96-yard kickoff return (Rae kick) USC 32-23 4 USC Davis 8-yard run (Rae kick) USC 39-23 4 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (kick failed) USC 45-23

^[12]

Rose Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Ohio St 0 7 3 7 17 • USC 7 0 21 14 42 Date: January 1 Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA Game attendance: 106,869

Scoring summary Q1 USC Swann 10-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) USC 7–0 Q2 OHST Keith 1-yard run (Conway kick) Tie 7–7 Q3 USC Cunningham 2-yard run (Rae kick) USC 14–7 Q3 OHST Conway 21-yard field goal USC 14–10 Q3 USC Davis 20-yard run (Rae kick) USC 21–10 Q3 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 28–10 Q4 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 35–10 Q4 USC Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) USC 42–10 Q4 OHST Bledsoe 5-yard run (Conway kick) USC 42–17

• John McKay's 100th career victory
• Anthony Davis 157 Rush Yds
• Sam Cunningham set Rose Bowl scoring record (previous - 18 by three players)

^[13]

References

1. "Rae leads Southern Cal to 31-10 rout of Arkansas."
2. Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Sept 17.
3. "USC Buries Illinois." 1972 Sept 24.
4. "Trojans Rip Illinois." Palm Beach Post. 1972 Sept 24.
5. "Top-rated Trojans blitz Sparts, 51–6." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 1.
6. "USC gets revenge as Cards halted." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 8.
7. Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 15.
8. "Trojans overpower Washington by 34-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 22.
9. Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 29.
11. "Trojans roll past Bruins, 24-7." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Nov 19.
12. "Davis' spree leads USC to 45-23 rout." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Dec 3.
13. "It's 'bring on Miami' after USC wins easily." Eugene Register-Guard. 1973 Jan 2.